Metropolis Gift Guide 2020: Wares + Wearables

Even the winter of our discontent can be made calm, given the right creature comforts. That’s why those objects associated with self-soothing—calories and clothing—usually make the best gifts.

WARES

Crockery in Black Basalt $196 (pitcher), $73 (small bowl)

Each piece in this dinnerware set by UK designer Max Lamb is slip-cast from hand-carved plaster molds to achieve its textural rocky finish. The cavity is glazed for functional dining.

Barbican Trolley II by Visibility $395

Equally useful in the kitchen, pantry or bar, this welded steel cart provides sturdy compact storage for recipe ingredients. Four finishes are available; and all are food- and drinks-friendly because they’re free of harmful metals and formaldehyde.

Otto Cooler (Price upon request)

This ice bucket is part of a collection of Lasvit glassware by designers Yabu Pushelberg. Alternating radial and tangential cut lines give the clear, handmade vessel a dramatic texture. Also available are a matching carafe, decanter, vases, and glasses of various shapes intended for wine, whiskey, highballs, and water.

Poisson Round Tray $336

Part of the GNR Collection Chandigarh, this 13.8″ unglazed porcelain tray is among three inspired by and named for a northern Indian city master-planned by Le Corbusier in the 1950s. The platters, developed for Cassina by Ginori 1735 and the Corbusier Foundation, bear imprints of the designer’s bas-reliefs in the storied city, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Winter Seasonal Teapot + Plaza Small Modern Cups $264 (pot) $19 (per cup)

Known for its products’ cozy, small-batch aesthetics, Heath Ceramics has imbued a familiar kitchen staple with its hallmark craftsmanship. The cups and pot shown feature a Light Grey and Grey Whale Gradient glaze, respectively.

WEARABLES

VANS x MoMA Kandinsky Crew $80

This sweatshirt with Vasily Kandinsky‘s artwork cleverly screen-printed on its back is the product of a fun collaboration between the skater clothing brand VANS and the Museum of Modern Art. The top is an 84% cotton-16% polyester blend for easy care and comfort. Matching sneakers, baseball caps, and T-shirts are also available.

Vertere $185

Architect Moshe Safdie designed this wristwatch marked by a dynamic Moiré pattern—a small-scale, moving sculpture. The manufacturer Projects Watches prides itself on such collaborations to produce what it calls affordable wearable artwork.

Converse x Denim Tears Chuck 70 $120

Without the artist David Hammons, this sneaker by clothing designer Tremaine Emory might not exist. When Hammons created the African-American Flag for a 1990 exhibit in Amsterdam titled Black USA, his intention was to revive enthusiasm for Marcus Garvey’s now century-old pan-African flag. It worked: 30 years later, Hammons’ artwork (and the spirit it represents) is being hyped everywhere and on everything.

A-Pack Large by Leon Ransmeier $420

What appears to be a neat tote is also a durable backpack. The waterproof, waxed-cotton canvas bag and the adjustable nylon straps are Maharam’s. A zip closure, four pockets and a 28-liter capacity make it an all-weather, multipurpose must-have. Measuring 12 3/4″ wide x 18″ high x 7″ deep, it is also available in a small version.

B.R.A.V.E Sweatshirt $40

Earlier this year, the National Organization of Minority Architects issued a bold call to action, asking the design industry to banish racism; reach out to and advocate for those in need; vote, and engage everyone in the manner you’d want them to engage you. In short be BRAVE. Now anyone can wear that activist acronym on their sleeves.

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