Maple Knive Set
Former Research in Motion designers Ian Murchison and Rohan Thakar set up their own shop in Ottawa a few years ago, taking the pet projects they dreamed about at their desks and bringing them to fruition through their studio and consultancy, the Federal Inc. One of the most notable results arrives on retail shelves soon: the Maple Set, a pair of kitchen knives that are primarily wood (sealed and food-safe Canadian maple) with just a hint of German stainless steel showing on one side. "Traditionally you see a knife and it's all blade. You have the shank and the rivets – maybe there's some wood on the handle but the rest is all metal," says Murchison, explaining that they evened out the ratio to create a warmer feel. "It creates a really nice sharp contrast between the wood and the metal." The design world agreed: the set has already won a Red Dot award. Preorder for $99 (U.S.) through warehousebrand.com, available in stores soon. thefederal.co