The Hot Pocket for outdoor comfort

July 1, 2019  |  Swatches

When the nights get cold or a chilly rain falls during a camping adventure, wouldn’t it be great to slip into a heated, cozy sleeping bag? That’s the idea behind Hot Pocket, a stuff sack that includes a heating element to warm whatever is stored inside. Made by outdoor gear designer Sierra Madre…
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Swimming—fast—with the sharks

July 1, 2019  |  Swatches

Competitive swimmers know that the right swimwear is essential for the swift swim they seek: The suit needs to be drag-resistant to achieve maximum speed. Iconic swimwear brand Speedo has introduced a new Fastskin line of suits that utilizes a resistance technology that ups the game by providing sup…
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Curtains that combat indoor air pollution

June 1, 2019  |  Swatches

As air pollution continues to be a serious issue, particularly in urban areas, the quality of indoor air is also a concern. The World Health Organization estimates that about 90 percent of people worldwide breathe polluted air, resulting in an estimated eight million deaths each year. With these sta…
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Organic cotton, happy vegetables

June 1, 2019  |  Swatches

Sometimes the old-fashioned way is best. That’s what Sally Erickson, founder of Vejibag, discovered when she looked for a way to keep vegetables fresh from the time they were picked in her greenhouse in Eastport, Maine, until the time customers took them home from the local co-op.  What Erickson …
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Soul-shifting fashion

June 1, 2019  |  Swatches

Fashion designer Iris van Herpen is known for pushing boundaries. The Amsterdam-based designer exploits symbiotic relationships, using highly technical methods, including 3D printing and laser cutting, to create expansive, even tumultuous designs that seem to flow from her imagination. For her lates…
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Bermuda shorts with an added layer of cool

June 1, 2019  |  Swatches

Traditionally worn three inches above the knee, Bermuda shorts are quintessential dress on their home island, commonly worn with sport coats for business attire as well as with polo shirts for casual occasions. But it’s not necessary to live on Bermuda to enjoy the island way of life. The Hamilton…
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Chic retractable roofing

June 1, 2019  |  Swatches

The trendy London restaurant Chotto Matte recently opened its first U.S. outpost in Miami Beach, Fla. Specializing in Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine, the restaurant has a cool, modern aesthetic that combines an urban Tokyo vibe with the South Florida tropics. Colorful murals created by local stree…
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Customized, portable cleanrooms

June 1, 2019  |  Swatches

In certain manufacturing situations, the strictest level of cleanliness is necessary. During production, automation components, tools, microchips, space probes or medical devices can be affected by even the slightest contamination. Companies often employ cleanroom environments during the manufacturi…
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Underwater shade at Penn State

May 1, 2019  |  Swatches

When you think about outdoor spaces for people to congregate, a water tower is probably not on the list. But on the campus of Penn State University, State College, Pa., a new water tower located next to the Palmer Museum of Art and the Stuckeman School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture was …
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Building a better umbrella

May 1, 2019  |  Swatches

Umbrellas come in different shapes and sizes, but often the chief problem is that they don’t hold up to wind. Consider estimates that more than one billion umbrellas are broken every year: That’s enough polyester waste to cover New York City. Enter Hedgehog Carbon, an umbrella that is wind-teste…
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