Nike have discovered a new way to protect its customers from buying counterfeit sneakers and it involves teaming up with one of the world’s largest online retailers. 

Bloomberg announced that Amazon.com Inc. will finally be given the green light to sell Nike sneakers directly via its brand-registry platform designed to keep fake sneakers off the site. This reinforced sales process will ensure that counterfeits aren’t being traded through third parties in the competitive online marketplace.

Prior to this, the Oregon sports company didn’t allow Amazon to sell their shoes even though their main competition including Adidas and Under Armour both had dedicated storefronts on the retail site. With the pressure of dodgy knock-offs making their way into customers’ hands growing, Nike finally committed to policing its online sales more aggressively.

This move isn’t necessarily a bad thing since it could open up a new online market segment to the sportswear giant. And in Australia at least, that could mean an even greater access to exclusive sneakers that are hard to come by or rarely stocked. The keyword here is the ‘millennial shopper’, those who do most of their retail therapy via the web than a bricks and mortar store.

The aforementioned brand-registry program is quite intuitive in itself as it relies on a system called ‘machine learning’. This platform can point out violations and have counterfeit goods automatically removed from the site. Amazon will eventually see the technology move to a point where it can detect and remove knock-offs even before they’re posted to the site. 

The post Nike Has Found A New Way To Protect Customers From Knock-Offs appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Mexico City isn’t short of cultural and artistic inspiration for its legions of visitors. Joining that movement this month is Mexican artist Damián Ortega who has turned the idea of art into an explosive visual experience.

The talented creative began his career as a political cartoonist before taking on projects of a slightly more heightened scale. And believe it or not, the piece that first garnered him attention was made entirely of tortillas that could be arranged depending on the exhibition. That tortilla piece currently resides in Guggenheim whilst Ortega has focused his efforts on a different kind of explosive exhibition – the industrial world.

RELATED: 28 French Street Artists You Need To Know

Think Vespas, VW Beetles, full furniture sets and an entire collection of gardening tools. To create the cool visual effect Ortega removes individual components from its rightful place before suspending them onto the ceiling for visitors to muse over.

The post Damián Ortega's Exhibition Is A Lesson In Explosive Artwork appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Australia’s much-hyped restaurant industry just celebrated the biggest day of the year. The Australian Financial Review counted down the winners of its annual restaurant awards, crowning the 100 best restaurants in Australia at a gala event in Sydney.

This year marked the third edition of the Australia’s Top Restaurants Awards, presented by Qantas and the Australian Financial Review. Unlike other industry awards, these are voted upon by the top 500 chefs and restaurateurs in the country, meaning the winners are selected by their peers rather than food critics. There’s no surer sign that an eatery is worth exploring than the praise of its competitors.

“This top 100 is important because everyone wants to eat where chefs eat,” said renowned writer and awards co-director Jill Dupleix. “This list is all that passion and knowledge and respect, formalised.”

Her co-director Terry Durack, chief restaurant critic for the Sydney Morning Herald, said restaurant awards have traditionally been driven by critics, “but when you talk to a chef, they never ask another restaurant critic where to eat; they ask a chef.”

2017’s top honour went to Victoria’s Brae, while chef/owner Dan Hunter went on to receive further accolades, also taking the ‘Australia’s Top Chef’ award.

“As a chef, Dan is an intelligent perfectionist, and as a business owner, he’s re-writing the rulebook for regional restaurants across Australia”, said Durack. “By digging down and being part of the landscape, Brae is carving out a very special place for itself where you can have a uniquely Victorian experience.”

The 2017 list showed greater appreciation for regional restaurants than years past, with a total of fourteen restaurants in the top 100 located outside capital cities.

“The new top 100 shows that diversity is the great strength of Australian dining. It makes dining out so much more interesting when every experience is different rather than the same,” said Durack.

“As always, the magic is in the mix, especially in that amazing top ten. With everything from vineyard restaurants to laneway diners, it makes the top 100 a real bucket list in terms of what’s good where, right now,” Dupleix added.

The post AFR Crowns Australia's Top 100 Restaurants appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The world often condones living in a bubble but not the weirdos from Iceland. Nestled deep within a secret forest a few hours from Reykjavik is the quirky Buubble Hotel, a retreat which boasts no internet and just the bare essentials to ensure their small number of guests can recuperate without today’s digital noise. 

The hotel which is commonly known as the ‘5-million star hotel’ features five transparent bubble cabins which are all reinforced with metal frames in the case of heavy snow. Other than that it’s just you, a partner and Mother Nature along with the Northern Lights. 

RELATED: Cool Hotels That Can Only Be Found In Reykjavik

Creature comforts inside every bubble includes a lamp, plush bedding and a silent ventilation system which keeps the bubbles inflated and warm whilst preventing humidity during the heavy bouts of Icelandic cold. Even privacy isn’t really a concern here with every bubble home nestled amongst trees to offer the maximum personal space without impeding on nature’s way. 

Even the location of the bubbles are kept under wraps until a guest actually books in a room. For those after a family holiday the Buubble Hotel also offers larger “rooms” with double beds. The self-service kitchen and amenities are located on a separate standalone house. Room service? There is none so guests are advised to bring their own food supplies which also extends to toiletries.

The post Step Inside Iceland's Zany Buubble Hotel appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The ‘Connected Aeroplane’ is another step closer with tech company Honeywell dedicating its Aerospace and Defence division to developing the infrastructure which will connect aircrafts to high-speed internet. 

The goal? To replicate the speed and reliability of land connections for the air. It’s a task easier said than done with current in-flight internet services being brandished as sketchy at best.

Virgin Australia’s recent attempt to bring Wi-Fi to the skies allowed for an impressive download speed of 70Mbps. Split between 20 passengers though and that speed drops to 3.5Mbps – not bad for standard definition streaming – however, the speeds are skewed depending on each user’s data consumption.

In other words a web browser may have to wait for their page to load whilst the doofus next to them streams Daredevil on Netflix. Load balancing is the current solution for this but in time the passenger demand shall render this obsolete.

Honeywell’s solution relies on partner Immarsat’s satellite technology, whilst GlobalXpress Ka-band serves as the link between three of Immarsat’s existing satellites to speak to the plane. A fourth satellite is also slated to orbit.

The post Netflix Could Be Coming To A Flight Near You appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Fast moves fast in New York. What may be your favourite boutique one year, could be easily closed the next. Leaving you searching for another suitable lifestyle shop, going to Barneys, or resorting to online shopping to meet your styling needs.

Fear not modern minimalist APCer’s, tech streetwear goths, and Japanese denim enthusiasts, New York has the lifestyle shop for every type of guy out there. From seven story marketplaces to small boutique shops, here are the coolest menswear stores in New York City and why you should visit next time you’re in area.

Idol Brooklyn

Idol does a good job keeping you guessing what they’ll come with next at their shop in North Williamsburg near Nitehawk. Owners Daniel France, Wei Du, and Alex Kasavin curate a mix of rare, high-end technical streetwear brands such as Takahiromiyashita The Soloist, Cav Empt, m.a+, Label Under Construction, and more.

The guys are usually manning shop themselves, are extremely knowledgeable and willing to chat you up about streetwear until you remember brunch is ending soon at Sweetchick, and you really wanted to try their Smoked Pork Hash.

101 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn

Goose Barnacle

Leave it up to Brooklyn to marry a Nordic-edge menswear shop with rotating modern art exhibits on off Atlantic in Brooklyn Heights. What stands out about Goose Barnacle is the lesser known brands they offer compared to other menswear stores in the city.

Shop the threads of Danish designers Han Kjobehavn, local artisanal brand HANDVAERK, and whatever fine art pieces are featured on the day. The layout is handsome, organised, and offers a selection of pieces any guy who wants to up his casual weekend wardrobe.

91 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn

Hotoveli

New Yorkers wear a lot of black. It’s the easiest of “colours” to throw together regardless of the weather. It doesn’t show the dust, dirt and grime that comes with living the city life. And hell, black looks classy.

Hotoveli embodies the spirit of black with a healthy range of high end streetwear brands like ACRNYM, Rick Owens, Daniel Anderson, and carry some seriously cool womenswear as well. All in an exposed brick, handsomely lit atmosphere that’ll keep you browsing and chatting up the knowledgeable staff for an hour after an inebriating brunch in West Village.

378 Bleecker St, New York

Dover Street Market

Originating in London, Comme des Garçons founder Rei Kawakubo brought this 7-story fashion retail powerhouse to New York in 2013. DSM curates the latest high-end trends in the industry, offering an array of brands from Raf Simons to Supreme, and all the CDG you could imagine.

Each floor proudly showcasing clothes with exquisite detail and innovative creativity, turning mundane shopping trips into a journey of luxurious fabrics one must experience when shopping in NYC.

160 Lexington Ave, New York

Atelier

The Village is home to one of the coolest menswear stores in NYC with little mention, Atelier. If you’re seeking high quality technical garments in an unfussy, minimalist atmosphere, here’s the shop for you. Browse the apparel of luxe German designer Leon Emanuel, Greg Lauren, Rick Owens, and various streetwear kingpins. All in a carefully curated, black and white fit out on 8th street.

20 W 8th St, New York

Odin

Odin is a staple for any well-dressed man and was one of the first lifestyle shops dedicated to men only. Located in SoHo (and one in West Village), the shop is a hidden gem amongst the popular stores you’ll find along the beaten paths of Mercer and Broadway.

They carry familiar brands such as CDG and ACNE Studios, while surprising you with some lesser known brands like Childs, Officine Generale, and Nopasanada, in an attractive, well designed store.

Give their house fragrances a spray or two while you meander through the shop. Since 2009 they’ve teamed up with Parisian perfumiers like Jean Claude Delville and Corinne Cachen to develop invigorating scents for both men and women.

161 Grand St, New York

Saturdays NYC

Saturday on Crosby Street will be on your list for a variety of reasons – you’re looking for on-trend basics, you want to surf (yes it’s possible outside the city, rent a board here), or you need a cool spot to meet your Tinder date for a coffee.

The shop offers a refuge from the busy SoHo streets on the weekend. Where a quiet back deck allows shoppers to leisurely sip, chat, and scroll until you’re ready to make the next move.

Shop the latest tanks and board shorts from Saturdays for a relaxed, casual summer style. The humidity is near in New York, meaning my black fall get up won’t last much longer.

31 Crosby St, New York

Blue In Green

If the lure of G-Stars militaristic style and raw denim captures your attention, stop. Turn back to Broadway, swing two blocks over to Greene St and find yourself at Blue in Green (BiG), the leading raw Japanese denim shops in NYC.

BiG is a classy men’s lifestyle store carrying apparel brands you probably haven’t heard of unless you’ve shopped in Tokyo. It’s welcoming, detailed layout and coffee shop easily makes you forget you’re in New York. Until you leave, make a wrong turn, and end up in Chinatown. Then you’ll remember you’re in New York.

8 Greene St, New York

R by 45RPM

For those with the credit limit to shop, the deconstructed style and unique fabric varieties R45 offers are a fashion treasure to be appreciated. Their organic, versatile apparel are designed with materials like Zimbabwean cotton, hand-dyed Indigo, and hand-spun Khadi fabric.

You can sport their garments anywhere from high-end restaurants to weekends in Capri, or Happy Hour with the mates. The shop itself reflects a Zen temple with a stone pathway, wooden pillars, and limestone dressing rooms. Embodying the brands aesthetic and dedication to the Earth that goes into every article of clothing produced back in Japan.

169 Mercer St, New York

C’H’C’M’

Clinton Hill Classic Menswear (C’H’C’M) began as an online shop until owner Sweetu Patel opened up the 2 Bond Street basement brick-n-mortar near NYU. Since its induction New York, it hasn’t been given the hype compared to its neighbours down in SoHo . And it’s just the way it’s loyal shoppers like it.

The long lines and young hypebeasts are busy around the corner at Kith, leaving you with a peaceful, easygoing shopping experience. Patel and his CHCM crew curates domestic and international brands from Kazuki Kuraishi to Stone Island and local designers like Abase Rosborough and Adsum making them one of the coolest menswear stores in NYC.

The post Cool New York Menswear Stores You Need To Visit appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

French watch company Bell & Ross are rather competent at letting their imagination run wild in the name of innovative design.

Their latest piece which once again pays tribute to the AeroGT concept car has been reimagined in a striking orange hue and limited to just 500 examples worldwide.

The watch features a 42mm satin-polished steel case which houses Bell & Ross’ calibre BR-CAL.319 automatic movement with a host of chronograph functions including a 12-hour timer at 6 o’clock, a 30-min timer at 9 o’clock and a small seconds counter at 12 o’clock alongside the standard hours, minutes, and seconds hands. 

The skeleton dial faithfully shows off the watch’s inner mechanics with and intricately anodized orange movement bridge providing a nice contrast to the machined metal parts. 

Aesthetically, the signature Bell & Ross square face is complemented here with an orange tachymeter scale on the bezel and a perforated black calfskin strap with orange piping.

Visibility in low light or under water has also been catered to with Superluminova-filled indices on the metal appliques allowing for legibility up to 100 metres.

The post Bell & Ross Go Orange With A New AeroGT Timepiece appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The cold shower is a divisive subject. George Costanza wrote them off as “for psychotics”, but 007 is a fan. In fact, Ian Fleming’s enigmatic character was such a proponent that the term “James Bond shower” entered the lexicon.

Fictional characters aren’t the only ones to throw their hats in the cold showers ring. Many athletes swear by them, as do lifehackers and personal development gurus. Advocates say the blast of icy water is more than a way to jolt out of morning sluggishness – it packs a bunch of physical and mental benefits, all backed by actual science.

Some even say “environmental stress” like experiencing extreme temperatures is a missing pillar of optimal health.

Though you’re likely loath to surrender your hot water willingly, here are six reasons it may be the smartest change you make to your morning routine.

Improved Mood & Reduced Stress

Research at the Department of Radiation Oncology at Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Medicine indicates that cold showers can help treat depression symptoms by stimulating the ‘blue spot’ – the brain’s primary source of noradrenaline, a chemical that can fight depression.

Other research suggests that cold showers expose your body to manageable amounts of discomfort and stress, and over time, your nervous system learns to adapt. The result is an increased tolerance to daily stress and irritation, coupled with a boost to your willpower and discipline.

Increased Energy

If you’ve ever jumped into frigid water, you know it can literally take your breath away. You feel like you’re gasping for air – which, in this case, turns out to be a good thing. Those deep breaths dramatically increase your heart rate and oxygen intake, which stimulates a natural burst of energy. Just a few minutes in the cold can keep your energy level high for several hours, no caffeine needed.

Stimulating Weight Loss

Not all fat is created equal. Researchers found that a kind called “brown fat” is activated when exposed to extreme cold, causing it to start burning the more calorie-loaded fats that pile up in your beer gut and man boobs. According to this study, cold temperatures can increase brown fat by 15x the normal amount, potentially resulting in nine pounds of weight loss per year.

Healthier Skin & Hair

Hot water tends to dry out skin and hair by stripping them of their healthy, hydrating natural oils. Cold water, on the the other hand, temporarily tightens skin and closes pores by restricting blood flow, and can make your hair appear shinier, stronger, and healthier.

Improved Circulation

Alternating between hot and cold water can improve your circulation. Cold water triggers your blood to move to your organs to keep them warm. Hot water reverses the effect, sending the blood back towards the surface of the skin. Stimulating the circulatory system is vital for overall cardiovascular health and speeds up recovery time from strenuous activities. Some even say it contributes to a more youthful appearance.

Sped Up Muscle Recovery

There’s a reason elite athletes soak in ice baths after intense training sessions. The cold water improves circulation and helps eliminate some lactic acid, enabling muscles to recover faster and relieving the scourge of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Cold showers might not be quite as effective as full submersion, but then again, you’re no elite athlete either.

The post Science-Backed Reasons You Should Consider Taking Cold Showers appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

McLaren has added another ring to the board with the arrival of the 570S Spider, an open-top version of the British marque’s accessible line-up of supercars.

The car will mark its official debut at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed in late June whilst joining the coupe and GT versions. McLaren ensured that the 570S Spider would sport some minor changes over the standard 570S starting with the first 400 models being built as “launch edition models” (new exterior colours in Curacao Blue, Vega Blue and Sicilian Yellow). 

The retractable hardtop does add 46kg to the car’s overall weight but structural rigidity remains unchanged as in the coupe. Those in need of getting away in style will also be glad to know that the roof takes just 15 seconds to open or close at speeds of up to 40km/h. An extended rear spoiler is now 12mm higher than the coupe’s in order to compensate for this slight change in body shape.

Under the bonnet the 570S Spider receives the same proven 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 engine mated to a seven-speed gearbox in a mid-engine layout. Power is rated at 562hp and 600Nm of torque which is capable of seeing 100km/h in just 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 315km/h with the top down.

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