5 Minutes with ULTRAOLIVE (Giveaway)

by Mike, July 28, 2014

Brooklyn-based carry brand ULTRAOLIVE love producing goods that are functional and versatile without sacrificing style. We recently caught up with them to chat inspiration, design dislikes, who they respect in the world of carry creation and what to expect from ULTRAOLIVE in the future…

–

What key insights drive your stuff (what have you realized that others haven’t)?

Living and working in New York City, I have learned a lot about how people commute and travel. I’m always observing what others are carrying. There are so many people who live here or are passing through that have great style. One common thread that I see is that people want items that will be appropriate in all types of situations, whether you have a meeting, are going out after work, or get caught in the rain without an umbrella. At ULTRAOLIVE, we are invested in creating products that provide a very particular balance of how a product looks and performs.

Who else is doing rad things in the world of carry? Could you elaborate on those things (functions/features, technology, philosophy, materials, etc.) and why you think they’re important?

I like KARA bags – they have a nice design balance in my opinion. Their bags tend to be bold and simple with a straightforward construction. They seem to have really thought through the detailing and general use of their bags. I think that any time anyone is successful in creating something that is fresh, good-looking and super functional it makes people question their views.

Are there any things other brands do that you think are crap? Common mistakes that drive you nuts?

Any brands that people know including ones that I don’t personally like can’t be total crap. They must be doing something right to be in that position. Also, I think that in general it’s difficult to put yourself and your brand out there, so I can’t knock anyone who’s ever started a brand.

On the product side though, I don’t like when there are lots of pointless bells and whistles to just “add” style or whatever – like adding non-functional hardware. We are not into that.

What’s next for you guys?

For the short term, more colors and styles for the Pebble Collection. Then, as time goes on, introducing new bag collections as well as going into other product categories.

What do you carry daily and how?

I usually wear the Pebble Backpack. It works well when I travel because I can add the sternum straps for longer trips or remove them for a casual walk around the city.