ToyCyte: Toy Culture Collected

I get some pretty good email, but beginning my week with this imagery is a stellar kick-off. Who knew that right here in San Francisco, Jamie Coblentz’ Kid Kustoms and Dads Against Wack Strollers were making these cutting edge tot transporters? And now, they’re collaborating with PPG industries, Wheaty Wheat Studios and the world’s best hot rod stripers, street artists, illustrators, air brushers, graphic designers and cartoonists to put the art back in (kid) cart.

Each participant (invite-only) is provided a set of fenders. While interchangeable on any of the Kid Kustoms Roddler strollers, the finished products will be displayed in prominent galleries worldwide, and auctioned off on a custom mounted frame, signed by the artist and with a letter of authenticity. The winners will be selected by D.A.W.S subscribers and “the readership from the esteemed magazines providing event coverage.” Each category’s winner will be auctioned off on a Roddler, with proceeds from all sales being donated to the artists’ choice of participating charitable foundations (One is Greater than None, UNICEF, Sacred Circle, Action Against Hunger and Conservation International).

“What we are doing is the first undertaking of its kind. It blurs the bounds between art mediums, the automotive world, fashion, technology and juvenile product realm. We are practicing the art of science through aesthetic appeal, functional design and thought provoking reason,” says Jamie Coblentz, president of Kid Kustoms and Pinstripe Prep.

I wonder if there is a big breeding boom around the holiday season because childless couples see cool stuff like this? You can truly customize anything these days. Bye bye boring baby Bjorn! ToyCyte readers (particularly the parents among us) will take note that the Kid Kustom artist list includes fenders by Peskimo, Squinky, Nathan Spoor, Richard Van Over (of Wheaty Wheat), Skaffs, Jim Koch, Brent Nolasco, Julie West, Pixelfillu, Triclops Studio, kaNO and a host of others. The one artist who is notably absent from this roster is Dead Presidents. Keep up with the latest news here.

Kryot: www.cancontrollers.net (charity Picked: UNICEF)

Roger Andrews: www.rand247.com (charity Picked: Sacred Circle)

Mega & Romeo: www.sons.nl (charity Picked: UNICEF)

Danny Casroc: www.casroc.com (charity Picked: UNICEF)

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