Interview: Jack Uesugi of a1000x

a1000x (A Thousand Times) is the brainchild of Hawaii high school junior Jack Uesugi. The goals are simple: to showcase and promote artists, to produce interesting products, and to highlight and help good causes around the world. As if you needed another reason to check them out, a1000x is kicking things off by giving away an iPad 2. Just ‘like’ them on Facebook for a chance to win. Mr. Uesugi recently took some time to sit down with Things Is Cool to discuss being a young entrepreneur, his love of art, and the desire to give back.  

THINGS IS COOL: All right. Let’s get into this. What is a1000x?

JACK UESUGI: a1000x basically means that whatever you do, you want to do it big. When we came up with the idea, we wanted to say, “Whatever you do, do it a thousand times better. Put a thousand times more effort in.” It’s a website that will allow us to promote artists and spread local [Hawaii-based] art throughout the community, to market the artists, and to print and sell shirts that the artists design. The idea of the whole project is that I love art, but I’m not much of an artist myself. I prefer the business side of it, and I know a lot of artists and am fortunate to have a number of resources. My family has a screen-printing business and my mom is a photographer. It just seemed dumb to not jump on the opportunity.

 

Latitude Supply Co.

The four guys who make up Latitude Supply Co. are launching the brand's debut collection, which consists of shorts, pants, shirts, and outerwear.  All of the nautically inspired pieces are made in downtown Los Angeles. 

Stone Island Outerwear Sale

Some great pieces are on sale at Stone Island. You've selected a few outerwear highlights. It would be a tough decision, but you would definitely be keeping warm in one of these if you lived somewhere cold. 

43431 VENTILE®_GHOST PIECE

40225 OPAQUE NYLON TELA

556A5 DUFFLE COAT IN FELTED WOOL

41225 OPAQUE NYLON TELA

44326 MIL_SPEC_DIAGONAL WOOL

45644 LIQUID REFLECTIVE JACKET

43451_DAVID – OVD

Margaret Howell A/W 2012

A selection of looks from the Autumn/Winter 2012 collection by Margaret Howell. 

"Free Aloha" by Dark Fall Productions

Being a lover of East Coast surf, you were excited about the film, Dark Fall, and it goes without saying that you're even more stoked to see Dark Fall Productions continue to succeed. The Dark Fall boys from NJ recently made a short that captures some of the highlights from this winter at your home. 

More Hamilton 1883

As you've mentioned before, shirting really doesn't get much better than Hamilton 1883. Some pieces worth checking out include plaids in "cotton cashmere" as well as new ginghams and oxfords.  

Royal Hem S/S 2012

The new Royal Hem collection for Spring/Summer 2012 pays tribute to the world of the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta. It blends British regimental sobriety with the crisp elegance of Italian tailoring. Suits and jackets in lightweight cottons, satins, and iridescent linens are alternated with cotton weaves and jersey. The seasonal color palette is in line with the theme of the collection; regal reds, rowing greens, royal blues, grays, and whites are combined into striped patterns, checks, and micro-patterns. Also, new washes and treatments are evident in, for example, light frost dies and vintage-inspired fabrics, which give certain pieces a “worn in” aspect. Finally, the Jabito line (jacket/suit), which made its first appearance last season, has been adapted for the Spring/Summer. Here, Jabito features a jacket and pants in lightweight wool with micro-jacquard patterns, which create a uniquely complimenting suit. Below are some images from Royal Hem's latest lookbook.

Teahupoo - Shot By Chris Bryan

Chris Bryan Films.

John Nouanesing Furniture

While you're on the subject of sick tables, you'd better not forget to include the designs of John Nouanesing, a 25-year-old artist/designer who lives in Anglet. The dripping red-hotness is called, "Paint or Die but Love Me." You'll be hitting him up next time you're in Basque France.

Nelson Platform Bench

George Nelson's platform bench, which he designed in 1946 as part of his first collection for Herman Miller, is also in the running for your next coffee table. Nelson calls it "honest" design.