All though the Core77 interview with Rob Walker has been up for a while, I finally gave it a read today in some free time. The interview is very insightful, and I recommend it to anybody with interest in the behaviors of our consumer culture. If you’re not familiar with Rob Walker, he has a weekly column called “CONSUMED”, in The New York Times Magazine. He also has a new book out, Letters From New Oreleans, which I haven’t read yet but I’m looking forward to.

I guess maybe I came back from Europe too early, Sneaker Freaker Magazine is celebrating the release of there 6th issue. I haven’t had a chance to even open my copy yet, but I hear it’s the best issue yet. The parties are Thursday the 7th of July (tomorrow) in London, and Friday the 8th in Amsterdam. More details can be found on Sneaker Freaker’s site.

Dan Funderburgh has an awesome portfolio of what he calls ‘Graphic Distraction and Killigraphy”. He has done apparel, and graphic design for folks like Zoo York, and Ecko, but what really grabs my attention are his pattern designs. This is a wallpaper piece called Yee-Haw, which he made for The Future Perfect, in Williamsburg, during the Living Space Design Showcase a few months ago.

softservice’s line of t-shirts responds to the “homogeneity and ubiquity” of commercial “superstore” clothing. All of the shirts are individually hand-painted and embroidered, giving them each a unique appearance. I’m all about limited edition and one of a kind designs–and these seem to really hit the spot for originality. Each design varies slightly so no two are exactly alike. The LA based designer was inspired when he noticed how a shirt he had just bought from a large national retailer was worn by hundreds of people. He took matters into his own hand and customized his mass-produced shirt and that’s how the softservice designs began. All the images on the shirts are simple and clean. Along with t-shirts the designer has just released a line of embroidered pillows with a very similair minimalistic, yet high quality feel.