Journal

A chronicle of people, places, happenings, and creations we admire.

Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec / SERIF / SAMSUNG 2015

Krona o Stjãrna have long been inspired by all things coming from the world of Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, the preeminent fraternal design team that has produced the iconic Joyn system and Slow chair for Vitra, the Clouds Divina system for Danish design company Kvadrat as well as may other elegant and poetic products, furniture and environments.  This time around, they have designed a multi-scale television system that carries the same serene aesthetic and ethos that Studio Bouroullec has become famous for.

Elegant furniture form factor for a television.

The brothers Bouroullec in the workshop.

The Bouroullecs wanted to move away from the perceivably increased obsession with the ultra-thin 'black screen' form factor in favor of a more integrated device that would live as furniture in your home.  The "I" section of the screen's bezel acts as a small 'shelf' and the television comes with four optional legs to use as a freestanding unit, to be viewed where the user sees fit.

Multiple scales available.

SERIF will be pre-launched during the London Design Festival (21-27 September). 

You can visit the exhibit Bouroullec X Samsung at the The River Rooms in the Somerset House (Strand Entrance, London WC2R1LA). 

Available in stores from 2nd November 2015.

Krona o Stjärna End of Summer Paracord Bracelets

©Krona o Stjärna

©Krona o Stjärna

We're celebrating the winding down of summer and looking forward to the cool, crisp weather of fall with two new colorways added to our paracord collection.  New designs feature Bright Yellow and a USA themed Red, White and Blue.  All come with polished 316L stainless steel shackle and are fully adjustable.

$25.00

Cars from the stable of Chris Evans go on the block at Bonhams goodwood Revival

Popular BBC Radio Two Dee Jay Chris Evans has built a reputation for being an complete gear head; his all-white Ferrari collection is now world famous and he has done much good giving to charity using this collection to raise funds.  This weekend at the Goodwood Estate, an enviable variety of rarities from the Ferrari lineage go up for auction at Bonhams including an alloy-bodied 275 GTB/6C in stunning Mint color, a 250 SWB Replica, and most notably, this stunning example of a 1971 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider (#18 of 121 Spyders ever built).  Proceeds go to BBC Children in Need charities.

The motor cars offered from Chris Evans are: 

- 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C Alloy, estimate £2,600,000-2,900,000
- 1971 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider, estimate £2,300,000-2,600,000
- 1963 Ferrari 250 GT/L 'Lusso', estimate £1,400,000-1,800,000
- 1965 Ferrari 275 GTS Spyder, estimate £1,300,000-1,600,000
- 1963 Ferrari 250 SWB Replica, estimate £500,000-600,000
- 1949 Jaguar XK120 'Alloy' Roadster, estimated £325,000-375,000
- 1967 Jaguar XKSS 'Lynx', estimate £325,000-375,000
- 1936 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Replica, estimate £250,000-350,000
- 1970 Mercedes 280SL 'Pagoda', estimate £100,000-130,000
- 1989 Ferrari 328 GTS, estimate £100,000-130,000
- 1958 Jaguar XK150 3.4 Fixed Head Coupé, estimate £55,000-65,000
- 1964 Daimler Dart Police Car SP250, estimate £50,000-60,000
- 1983 Fiat 127 Abarth, estimate £10,000-15,000

Follow @bonhams

Follow @achrisevans

The Monocle Guide to Cozy Homes

A handbook for making a home that will stand the text of time, take knocks and scuffs in its stride—and where lives can unfold, children grow up, and dogs run wild. --Monocle

About This Book

This Monocle book tells us how to turn a house into a home. Both a practical guide and a great source of inspiration, The Monocle Guide to Cosy Homes presents the interiors, furniture, and locations you need to know about along with portraits of the people who can make it happen. 

The Monocle Guide to Cosy Homes celebrates the durable and the meaningful through a collection of homes that tell a story. Most architecture and interior books show houses polished to perfection, manicured to the extent that it is hard to imagine anybody actually lives there: they seem to miss the point that homes are meant to be inhabited. They should be able to take scuffs and knocks and to be part of a community, whether in a Chicago skyscraper or on Australia’s sunshine coast.

Available Soon in the USA

Photos:©Monocle


The Story of the Yellow Jersey

As the Tour de France begins its second week of competition, there may be those who ask the question; "why the yellow jersey?"

In the very early 20th Century (1903), Henri Desgrange, founder of the French newspaper L'Auto (predecessor to today's L'Equipe) devised the race as publicity to increase newspaper sales, which happened to be published on yellow newsprint.  The press had asked the Tour Director of the time to come up with a way for them to easily spot the race leader, ergo the Yellow Jersey was born. 

But it would not be until 1919 when Eugéne Christophe (right) would become the first ever rider to wear the Maillot Jaune during the grueling race.  He would only finish as high as 8th overall.

Eddy Merckx (1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974) ©Getty Images

Eddy Merckx (1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974) ©Getty Images

As the race grew more and more popular (and much larger) over the years and now generations, there have been more variations of such jerseys that recognize the best of the best of the Tour with jerseys recognizing the "King of the Mountain" (Polka Dot), Most Sprint Points (Green / Maillot Vert) Best U25 Rider (White / Maillot Blanc) as well as other lesser awards and classifications.

Bernard Hinault (1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1985) ©James Andanson/Sygma/Corbis

Bernard Hinault (1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1985) ©James Andanson/Sygma/Corbis

While this year's Tour is a world away in terms of bicycle technology, athletic capability and commercial attention, the yellow jersey bears no less importance, certainly a lot more now as the famous garment is looked upon globally as its own brand and a crucial vehicle in television and media.

Current Tour leader Chris Froome is fighting hard to keep back the challengers as the second Pyrenean stage goes through Tarbes / La Pierre-St. Martin.

Follow @letour on twitter

Eugéne Christophe, first man to wear 'Maillot Jaune" in the TdF

Eugéne Christophe, first man to wear 'Maillot Jaune" in the TdF

Greg LeMond (1986, 1989, 1990) ©ESPN Films

Greg LeMond (1986, 1989, 1990) ©ESPN Films

Chris Froome (2013) ©Reuters

Chris Froome (2013) ©Reuters

Krona o Stjärna Brand Intro Line

We've just released a new line to celebrate not only our official store launch, but the the 4th of July as well.  Each iteration is made of combed cotton for optimum fit, breathability and comfort and emblazoned with our popular crown and star insignia.

Krona o Stjärna Brand Intro Line

$24.00-$26.00

Pitti Uomo 88 2015

Pitti Uomo kicks off this week with color and texture as the narrative for this summer.  Reintroduced patterns, weights and classic palettes rule the day at the what is arguably the most important platform for men's fashion and accessories. Held twice a year at the Fortezza da Basso in Florence, Italy, new and established design talents exhibit and launch new projects for international buyers to peruse and hopefully select for many of the world's leading retail companies. Pitti is the most widely known segment of the Pitti Immagine collection of fashion industry events.

Pitti Uomo 16-19 June, 2015

Visit: Fortezza da Basso, Viale Filippo Strozzi 1, 50129 Florence

Follow @Pitti_Immagine

Photos ©Enrico Labriola / Vanni Bassetti / AKA Studio Collective