At the end of the month StrangeCo will make their descent on classy San Diego for the area’s annual Comicon to unleash a menagerie of characters that might not be so out of place in the fabled zoo of “America’s Finest City.” Their booth will have a bevy of creations from their usual collaborators like James Jarvis and tokidoki in tow. However, they’ll also have a brand partner in crime in the form of the San Francisco artist, toy collector and designer Mark Nagata. Nagata’s Max Toy Company specializes in making hand-painted, limited release figures in the tradition of classic Japanese character toys. If you’re going to San Diego in search of innovative creature comforts, check out Max Toy’s Eyezons, Pharaohs, and Booska figures, amongst others, and maybe snap one up before someone else does. These babies won’t last too long.

Take a look at the toys

READ MORE…

I was browsing around the site reflecting on how far we’ve come and couldn’t help but notice the wealth of inspiration and content we’ve got in the SpearTalks archives. So, I figured I’d round them all up for easy consumption. Whether you like fashion, technology, art, or just about anything else– with nearly 40 incredible interviews, there’s something for everyone thanks to our very own Carmel Hagen. Go, dive in, it’s just a click away.

Inevitably, it starts like this: You walk into a storefront, studio or house. The store is run by men in plaid shirts and sneakers; the studio is ran by men in plaid shirts, sneakers, and glasses; the house is full of art prints, sneakers, and people who look like they belong in a studio/storefront. There are shelves in these places, and on the shelves are toys. They are not toys for boys (or girls) — they have not been made to battle each other, or buried in a sandbox, or forced to kiss Barbie — these are man-toys (wo/man- toys), and they represent something entirely different, refreshingly new, and disgustingly addicting.

The vinyl toy movement (also referred to as the art toy movement; sometimes referred to as the urban vinyl movement) has been creeping through the US for years now, but only recently has it reached such gratifying levels of familiarity. At the head of this movement (or more accurately; at one of it’s many heads, each of which are covered in eyeballs and separately designed by artists the world over) is STRANGEco, a company founded in 2002 by college chums Jim Crawford and Gregory Blum.

Joshspear.com: When, how, and why was STRANGEco founded?

Jim Crawford: STRANGEco was founded in 2002 by myself (Jim Crawford) and Gregory Blum. We’ve known each other for a long time; we were college roommates, which goes back quite a ways now (gulp!). READ MORE…

STRANGEco and Tokidoki just announced new additions to their collaborative collection of “The Cactus Friends” designed by Italian designer/Tokidoki co-creator Simone Legno. The Cactus Cats and Pups, (who, like their predecessors SANDy and Sabochan, wear suits of cactus thorns, to keep the meanies at bay) are three inches and one inch tall respectively, and will both become available in time for Christmas. While the two Cats will be individually sold in window boxes, collectors of the Pups will have to count on the luck of the draw, as all seven of the toys will be mystery-boxed. The Pups also come equipped with tiny doggy accessories, like dog bowls, sausages, and, um- stuff they dig up in the backyard… like skulls. Check out the entire STRANGEco/Tokidoki line here.

Related: STRANGEco/Tokidoki Archive

What happens when you create a collaboration among three of the hottest names in designer toys? You get this. Tokidoki has teamed up with STRANGEco and NYC’s YoyaMart to create tokidoki-land this Saturday, the 13th. The entire YoyaMart store will be transformed, featuring tokidoki’s entire catalog of goodies. Designer Simone Legno will be on hand to hawk his newest wares.

The words “customized” and “drinks” have also been thrown around, so you know this party will be raging. To top it off, a rare, limited-edition Adios and ciao ciao set will be given away sometime during the party. So get ready to brave the cobbles and dodge Ferraris; the party goes down Saturday at the YoyaMart store in the Meatpacking District.

Full flyer goodness after the jump.

READ MORE…

SoCal Artist Bob Dob, whose punkish paintings I’ve admired since before I knew who created them, is the latest artist to team up with STRANGEco to produce some wicked collectibles.

Raging, Smoking, and Drinking are Bob Dob’s three vinyl interpretations of Luey’s, his normal angst-ridden/bad-boy characters. In Bob Dob’s paintings, Lueys (also known as the “Universal Bad Habit”and minions of the devil) are the guys that always seem to be up to trouble, yet still manage to make you feel that — were they a real person — you’d post bail for them in a heartbeat. You can get a better look at the toys on the STRANGEco site, or, if you happen to be in the L.A. area, swing by La Luz de Jesus Gallery on October 5th for Where Crows Die, a Bob Dob solo show and toy release.

Related: STRANGEco Archive

At the end of this month, STRANGEco will be showing off a huge selection of upcoming products at San Diego’s Comic Con. The newbies, which are are set for release throughout the year, will be presented alongside a full line-up of exclusive and special edition toys for Comic Con, including toys from James Jarvis, Superdeux, and tokidoki, among others. A few toys — like this version of last year’s Shikito vinyl (which I am allowed to love because I am 22 and it is glow-in-the-dark poop) — are being produced in very limited edition runs as show exclusives. It even looks like there will even be a few unveilings going on, so if you’re a toy freak…you best figure out how to make it over to the San Diego Convention Center from July 25-29.

Adios and Ciao Ciao, the two newest tokidoki/StrangeCo toys, are set for official release Thursday, June 21, at L.A.’s Munky King Melrose. The two figurines will be available separately, but, as the story goes, Adios has already been kicked out of both hell and heaven and condemned to live in a modern grave-loft with his girlfriend Ciao Ciao for eternity, so it could be a little insensitive to split them up. Tokidoki artist Simone Legno will be on hand to sign the newbies at the free, all-ages event, and the party is entirely open to the public. Doors will be open from 7-11 pm, and due to the throngs of tokidoki followers likely to show at the event, early arrival is highly recommended. Full flyer after the jump…

READ MORE…

A sneak peak at the ultra-cute new mini figure series from STRANEGco and tokidoki. The hottest stocking stuffers this season, for sure. The Moofia, designed by Italian fashion brand tokidoki features 7 original dairy themed characters, and of course one soy version for us lactose intolerant. These horned little guys will retail for $6.99 each and should be available early December. More fun pictures after the jump.
READ MORE…