Written by Matthew Pike in Essentials on the 15th July 2016

Pack your triangle-shaped butties and roll up your trouser legs, we’ve finally made it to the middle of the year and many of us are flocking to the beaches and parks to enjoy some time off. Well, if you’re in the UK you may well need to enjoy these pursuits accompanied by an umbrella or waterproof jacket, but you can’t knock the enthusiasm. If you’re reading this from across the pond then we have to admit we’re very jealous of your perpetual sunshine. July has brought us a new Wimbledon champion, an unexpected turn in France’s race to the European trophy and the lead-up to the US Open, but what else is new this month? Following on from our June round-up, we’ve compiled a list of our favourite products and releases for the month of July.

Nike Olympic Pack 

In celebration of this year’s Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics Nike has unearthed cult sneaker models from past events - along with a couple of news make-ups - to produce their 2016 Olympic Pack. This release features six standout models in total, each getting the Americana treatment; including the highly anticipated return of the Olympic Presto GPX. Accompanying this archived Olympian is the Presto Flyknit Ultra, Air Max BW and Ultra, Pegasus 92 and Zoom Pegasus 92, all kitted out in a limited edition Team USA colourway.

Mamnick x Bantam Frameworks Sunglasses 

We may be in political turmoil here in the UK, but however the landscape may change in the next few years it won’t stop the creative industry from working together to produce exciting partnerships. Two brands from the cities of Sheffield and Glasgow, respectively, have put their brain boxes together to create this super limited edition pair of handmade sunglasses. Created using Italian amber acetate, stainless steel rivets, a solid brass core and titanium nose pads, these guys are serious about their shades. In fact, each pair has been individually polished for 36 hours to achieve their desired finish. With only 50 pairs in total; 30 available in UK and 20 being sold through Mamnick’s Tokyo store.

Closca Collapsable Cycling Helmet 

With safety being of the upmost importance when it comes to cycling, the design of a helmet usually takes a hefty back seat. In fact, unless you go for style over substance the majority of cycling helmets can look like a cross between H. R Giger’s Alien and a LEGO battleship. Created with both design and space-saving in mind, Spanish brand Closca have come up with a totally unique way of looking at this humble bit of head kit. The Closca Fuga is a stylish, foldable, lightweight bike helmet, which reduces by 50% of its total size - fitting into a backpack or bag easily. Their philosophy of design runs deeper than just its looks, with the Fuga passing several international safety regulations to give you that needed peace of mind.

Champion x BEAMS  

While planning a recent trip to Japan we had a couple of stores we wanted to visit, and at the top of our list was the newly opened BEAMS department store at Shinjuku. Six floors filled with stuff we wanted to buy, but we left the store with just one Champion t-shirt. A couple of months down the line and these two menswear heavyweights have teamed up to launch a European exclusive collection. The range features items you’d expect from the timeless sportswear brand; sweatshirts, heavyweight tees and joggers, with a little extra added BEAMS flavour; unexpected zips, pockets and the inclusion of a water-repelling coating.

Master & Dynamic Rolling Stones MH40 Headphones 

Calling all music lovers… yep, that’s nearly everyone, right? Well July brings us a little something different for those in the market for proper ear candy. A unique opportunity for fans of Rolling Stones has been laid on the table by Spotify Premium and audio brand Master & Dynamic; the MH40 Headphones. This limited edition set is exclusively available to the US and UK markets via the online music provider. Paying tribute to the band’s formation, there are 1,962 pairs of the MH40 Over Ear Headphones being released, with the first few sets coming stacked with a Master & Dynamic MP1000 Headphone Stand.

Abbott Fragrances 

A fresh range of scents for you this month, coming from new fragrance brand Abbott. The New York City-based manufacturer has a wealth of experience behind it, with founders Alvarez and Pass, and master scent makers all working in the industry for several years. And with that experience the team have come together to create four signature fragrances, each inspired by adventure. Mojave is full of fresh citrus, spice and bergamot; Sequoia takes to the campfire with whiskey and cedar wood; Telluride has a rich tone, with sandalwood and tonic bean; The Cape is inspired by the ocean, with notes of mint, ginger and moss. The full sized bottles will be released at the end of summer, but for now you can try each scent out with their home starter kits.

We feature Nike Olympic Pack, Mamnick x Bantam Frameworks, Closca Collapsable Cycling helmut, Champion x BEAMS, Master & Dynamic Rolling Stones and Abbott Fragrances in July 2016’s Coolest Stuff.