new and noteworthy Urb ano Trash C a n Kevin McElroy, B.I.D. Industrial Design ’07 $20-$25 If empty plastic grocery bags are piling up haphazardly in your kitchen, take heart: The Urbano trash can offers a stylish solution. Made of polypropylene (plastic polymer), Urbano is handy for storing and using the accumulated bags. Manufactured in Long Island in an array of bright colors, it turns a household dilemma into a delight. McElroy’s clever design is the result of hours of experimentation at dismantling and combining bins, buckets, vessels, and random materials to come up with a serviceable storage container that also functions as a trash bin. Urbano won second place in the Pratt-Umbra Design Competition and was shown at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in 2005. Available at three Brooklyn shops: Future Perfect, Stewart/Stand, and Loom.
M e g a n Hu n tz D r esses Megan Huntz, B.I.D. Industrial Design ’99 $350-$400 Huntz hails from Atlanta, Ga., but moved to Italy after deciding to pursue a career in fashion. Her label reads “Made in Italy by an American girl.” Huntz offers a limited edition line of 100 percent hand-washed silk dresses. She oversees every step of the dress production herself, including the hand application of color and the dye bath wash, which render each garment distinctly different. Each dress is a unique piece made in a series and specifically numbered so the wearer can appreciate the exclusivity of this artisan product. The dresses can be worn all year round without regard to season or the traditional fashion cycle. Their style of effortless elegance presents the designer’s vision for contemporary dressing. Available through meganhuntz.com. 39