Josh Rubin, the New-York-City based designer of Freehands and founder of CoolHunting.com, realized there was an opportunity in the winter of 2007 when he found himself answering his iPhone with his nose to avoid taking his gloves off. The hassle of the glove-or-phone conundrum came up at dinner with his father, Stanley Rubin, who conveniently manufactures and sells gloves. In a matter of minutes, sketches were drawn, the scissors were out, and the Freehands glove was born.

Throughout his career as a professional interface designer, Josh has sought to blend usefulness, usability and beauty. Stanley grew up in Gloversville, NY, where his father was a glove manufacturer. Like his brother and nephew, Stanley followed suit, and it’s fair to say that he knows a few things about gloves. Freehands represents the melding of Josh and Stanley’s experience, sensibilities and design aesthetics.

For the 2009 season, Josh and Stanley set out to evolve their line, hailed as “ingenious” by the New York Times. This season marks the debut of knits, ski-friendly styles, a multi-purpose liner, the introduction of Thinsulate in select styles, and the update of the original fleece and stretch designs – all for $18-$40/pair. This affordable price point makes Freehands a budget-conscious choice for gadget lovers this holiday season.