Chick-a-Dee Smoke Detector

A playful alternative to this home necessity

While navigating the endless maze at the 2012 NY International Gift Fair, we came across this playful take on a home essential, the smoke detector. The Chick-a-Dee is, simply put, a smoke detector shaped like a bird; it brings a bit of life to a device designed to protect it. As the winner of the Mooi uit de brand design competition, the Chick-a-Dee previously sold …

Zai and Loro Piana

The Swiss ski makers join Italian garment maker for a technically driven set of understated wool outerwear

On a recent trip to Gstaad with Bentley (more on that next week), I had the pleasure of meeting the team from Zai, the high end, handmade Swiss ski manufacturer. Patrick, Daniela and Thomas (pictured here) all happened to be wearing incredible ski suits. As it turns out, Zai has recently branched into outerwear with the Cassacca, an aesthetically subdued, technically advanced outfit for the …

Honda NC700X

An innovative addition to motorcycling's sweet spot

Honda’s NC700X, the newest addition to the Japanese manufacturer’s line, is a crossover bike designed to give riders the best of both worlds. Highlighting efficiency while retaining sports performance, the motorcycle is equal parts commuter, street racer and weekend warrior. The bike is what you make of it—an open platform approach to transportation that is sensitive to rider demands. In a sign of its universality, …