5 Minutes with Property Of…

by Mike, February 20, 2014

Originally conceived over hot milky cups of coffee, Property Of… has developed into a men’s bags and accessories brand that has etched out a significant place in the market. Its undeniable, global appeal is a testament to its creators, cafe owners and design collaborators, Peter Teo & Richard Chamberlain. Their passion for “creating useful, well-made and considered products” has resulted in a brand that is not only known for practical and reliable design but design that cranes its neck and looks back at heritage without being ruled by it. We dig these guys, and so we stole 5 minutes of their time to dig just a little deeper…

1 – What key insights drive your stuff?

We have never been a brand that is trend-driven. It is always about designing functional bags with clean design aesthetics. We have to constantly evolve and adapt to new technologies as well as the lifestyle needs of the everyday user in order to make our products relevant. Bettering our designs until they are perfect.

People often ask me, why bag design? For me it’s about how it becomes a part of someone else’s life without people even realizing it. As Joe Sparano best puts it: “Good design is obvious, great design is transparent”.

2 – Who else is doing rad things in the world of carry and why do you think they’re important?

Many! Just to name a few: Porter Yoshida, Hobo, Mismo, Master-Piece. It is great that there are constantly new brands popping up all around the world – it is important as it helps push the envelope further in terms of design and quality. It has taken a while, but bags have slowly but surely become an essential part of men’s daily lives – and the growing number of options available these days are a big part of that.

3 – Are there any things other brands do that you think are great or could be improved?

Heritage-inspired styles have been quite a thing in the last couple of years. It would be interesting to see how the brands evolve from that when the trend dies down.

4 – What’s next for you guys?

We launched a Property Of… Amsterdam series (POA) of bags last year – it is a more affordable range targeted at people who are constantly out and about. With wet weather conditions in mind, these bags are light and wet weatherproof.

A few months ago we also launched a women’s capsule collection – think everyday slings, tote bags etc.

5 Minutes with Property Of…