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Aug 13 2020
Surface
Design Dispatch
Hem’s new chapter, SpaceX plots a Texas resort, and the world’s priciest face mask.
FIRST THIS
“Life is about the journey, not the endgame.”
HERE’S THE LATEST

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Undeterred by Covid-19, Hem Readies a New Chapter

In early March, the Swedish direct-to-consumer furniture brand Hem was preparing to open its first permanent East Coast location. After months of scouting, founder Petrus Palmér felt like he finally found the ideal spot: a 2,500-square-foot historic loft in the heart of New York City’s SoHo neighborhood, a hotbed for fashion boutiques and design showrooms.

“I’ve always been drawn to SoHo for its energy,” says Palmér, who was hours away from christening the studio with a festive opening-night cocktail when Covid-19 suddenly caused the city to shelter in place. For many in the New York design sphere, Hem’s decision to call off the party was the first of many, portending a spate of similar cancellations that have become routine as the world continues to quarantine.

Since then, Hem has positioned the studio to become a dynamic community hub for locals, akin to visiting a friend’s apartment instead of a “gallery-like showroom where furniture is presented like precious art pieces,” says Palmér. (“Hem” is Swedish for “home,” after all.) The brand’s in-house design team envisioned the studio as a series of domestic vignettes, including dining room, living room, and kitchen setups, that can be easily reconfigured depending on the programming, and will feature a rotating selection of Hem’s greatest hits. Read more.

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What Else Is Happening?

Check-Circle_2x One of Berlin’s most exclusive nightclubs transforms into a huge temporary art venue.
Check-Circle_2x New York City museums are plotting their return despite no citywide reopening date.
Check-Circle_2x The buzzy beauty brand Glossier shutters all of its stores, which won’t reopen until 2021.
Check-Circle_2x A snapped auxiliary cable severely damages Puerto Rico’s Arecibo Observatory.
Check-Circle_2xKanye West comes to Virgil Abloh’s defense during an ongoing plagiarism dispute.
Check-Circle_2x A job listing reveals that SpaceX plans to build a spaceport resort in a tiny Texas town.
Check-Circle_2x Thomas Keller’s luxe TAK Room will permanently close its location at Hudson Yards.


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ITINERARY

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Alicja Kwade: Petrichor

When: Until Sept. 6

Where: König Galerie, Tokyo

What: Named after the fleeting smell of rain, the Berliner artist’s latest solo show unravels the limitations of our own perception. The phenomenon is perhaps best experienced in Be-Hide, a musing on the idea of “being,” in which a natural stone is replicated several times over in different materials and separated by mirrors that open up infinite vistas.

FASHION

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ICYMI: Presley Oldham Is Democratizing Handmade Pearl Jewelry

As early as Presley Oldham can remember, he was surrounded by handicraft. He admits to literally having grown up in the factory of his uncle, the design stalwart Todd, and spending his childhood making jewelry by hand with his grandmother. Though design and craftsmanship runs deep in his lineage, the aspiring actor had little intention of following suit. He had recently graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and relocated to Los Angeles to enter the entertainment industry, where he secured production assistant gigs for music videos while auditioning for larger roles.

Then the coronavirus happened, causing all of his work to evaporate. Faced with little to no options in his field, Oldham journeyed to Santa Fe, New Mexico, to quarantine with his grandparents, who reintroduced him to the familiar pastime of jewelry-making. It just so happens that Oldham had been sourcing antique freshwater pearls at flea markets in New York and Los Angeles for years, so he began hand-making pearl chokers for friends in his spare time. Their positive feedback, as well as the newfound level-headedness afforded by being immersed in the American Southwest’s natural grandeur, motivated him to launch his namesake jewelry line with a zero-waste mindset.

THE LIST

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Member Spotlight: Adidas Originals

Adidas Originals understands that a sporting lifestyle doesn’t end in the locker room. In keeping with this philosophy, the brand brings its athletic DNA to a range of stylish, performance-driven products. One of the first brands to apply its athletic capabilities to everyday attire, Adidas Originals has translated athleticism to streetwear for more than a decade.

Surface Says: The timeless ease of Adidas footwear, clothing, and accessories has become an indispensable part of the creative wardrobe. Adidas Originals has become a style staple across industries, from art and fashion to music.

AND FINALLY

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Today’s Attractive Distractions

Meet “cluttercore,” which is essentially “cottagecore” for messy people.

A Tesla designer reimagines the chocolate chip for optimal use in cookies.

Yvel drops the world’s most expensive face mask, clad in gold and diamonds.

Behold the Mi TV LUX, the first mass-produced transparent television.

               


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