Fort Standard is the design firm of Gregory Buntain and Ian Collings, two friends that studied industrial design together at Pratt. I spent a couple of nights with them on the Appalachian Trail last summer, and before we started hiking, they gave our group the opportunity to earn their handmade merit badges for completing activities like naked swimming, tree climbing, fire making and river crossing. We all earned as many as we could...Since that trip, in addition to their pendants, tables, and terrariums, they've been very busy hand making and painting an updated version of those merit badges from last summer. I visited Greg and Ian last week to buy some presents, eat a slice of Key Lime pie, and take in the waterfront view from their Red Hook, BK shop window. Let me tell you, friends, even if you don't get a chance to do a naked river crossing this summer, you should still pick up their merit badge necklace. Yes, it's the thing pictured above, and yes, it's a beauty.