Buddhist monk turned creator of things, Kenji Ekuan has had an influence on Japanese culture. He's designed for Yamaha and the Bullet Train, but maybe his most notable contribution is the Kikkoman soy sauce bottle. Its simple form can be found on almost every restaurant table around the world and even the Museum of Modern Art.
One of the best funk records ever recorded didn't come from Motown, King, Chess, or Stax. Edge of Daybreak's Eyes of Love was recorded in Powhatan Correctional Center in State Farm, Virginia, in less than five hours and one take for each song. Jamal Jahal Nubi, Harry Coleman, James Carrington, Cornelius Cade, McEvoy Robinson, and Willie Williamske made up the group and created an album that has stood the test of time for almost 40 years.
Channel your inner Ben Gates. Vollebak has teamed up with adventurers Jason Fox and Aldo Kane to create the ultimate treasure hunt. Up for grabs is a one-of-a-kind hand-carved Rosewood sculpture crafted by Saena Ku. The piece took her over three months to complete and is impossible to duplicate, so don't even try. It's currently hidden somewhere on planet Earth and the only clue you'll be given is this short film by Oscar-winning director Orlando von Einsiedel, documenting the trek to its undisclosed hideout. Whoever can uncover the card's whereabouts will earn themselves free Vollebak clothing for life.
Over the last 30 years, contemporary and post war art prices overall outpaced the S&P 500.* This helps explain why Jeff Bezos, Marc Andreessen, and Bill Gates have collectively poured hundreds of millions into this global asset class. Luckily, you don't have to be a billionaire to build an art allocation in a portfolio anymore. Masterworks.com has made diversifying with multimillion-dollar artworks featuring artists like Banksy and Basquiat accessible to everyone with their premier art investing platform. Uncrate readers can use the link below to get access today.
Presented by Masterworks.
Masterworks data. Investing involves risk. Past performance is not indicative of future returns. Important disclosures: masterworks.com/cd
Nike merges two icons into one silhouette with the Air Max Waffle SP, combining the Tuned Air midsole of the Air Max Plus with the lightweight upper and rugged Waffle outsole of the original Waffle Trainer. The result is a modern hybrid built for all-day comfort with a clear line back to Nike's heritage, offering enhanced stability and a more responsive ride. It's a crossover built to handle mixed terrain with a confident stride that easily fits into your daily rotation.
First, there was 4K. Then it was 8K. Now, we've reached mind-blowing clarity with 12K. Just to put it into perspective, it's 48.5 times the resolution of HD 1080p. Filmmaker Phil Holland showcases the stunning resolution with a cinematic flyover of New York City.
National Geographic has a history of thought-provoking covers but their June issue was one of the most captivating in recent years. The now iconic iceberg made from a grocery bag has everyone talking about plastic. Formerly a natural product, the man-made material now accounts for 18 billion pounds of pollution in our oceans. In line with the launch of their "Planet or Plastic?" campaign, NatGeo has released this video covering the history of the product as well as ways to reduce its waste.
With sponsors like Nike, Under Armour, and Adidas, you know the Golden State sneaker closet is full of gems. Each season, players are sent their signature shoe in dozens of colorways and no one knows each pair better than equipment manager Eric Housen. During a tour of their Oakland practice facility, Housen shows off the lineup of shoes from players like Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson and Nick Young while ranking a few of his favorites in the process.
In 1968, Hot Wheels made their debut with the Custom Camaro. The die-cast cars have been racing across bedroom floors ever since. In honor of their 50th anniversary, Donut Media put together this timeline featuring some of the toy brand's most iconic releases.
For those who take late-night calls that turn into early flights, the Lundi Conally 36-Hour Briefcase is the only plus-one you need. Crafted from black canvas and leather with a silhouette as sharp as your pitch deck, it carries the precision of a briefcase and the utility of an overnight bag. Inside, there's a place for everything — laptop, documents, business cards, a change of clothes—because chaos isn't part of your carry-on. Finished with a leather strap, suitcase clip, and clean lines, it's built for long days and global nights.
Built for wet commutes and winter slush, the Nike Zoom Vomero Roam updates the everyday trainer with winter weather protection. A durable upper is reinforced with rubber mudguards and a water-repellent finish keeps out the elements, while full-length Nike Air Zoom cushioning delivers all-day comfort. Designed to handle winter streets without sacrificing comfort and style, the Vomero Roam keeps you moving through whatever the season throws at you.
They say you can't judge a book by its cover — unless it's a work of science fiction with one of those excellent cover paintings that screams to be read. Sci-fi book covers are some of the best art you can get your hands on, with the added bonus of getting a book too — oftentimes for a dollar and change. The Nerdwriter dives into the history of the sci-fi cover and how it became one of the strangest, most accessible places for artwork in the world.
The I Heart NY symbol is almost as iconic as the city itself. Designed in 1977 by Milton Glaser, the symbol was first created as an advertising campaign for the city. The campaign turned into the state's trademark logo and can still be seen in every souvenir shop 40 years later. This short film sheds light on the man behind the design and shares how his own relationship with the city inspired his now infamous graphic.