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Design Heads :: Alec Farmer (Trakke)
…, and a range of styles, so inspiration can come from anywhere. I love the Japanese design sensibility, and often find that origami plays a huge part in how I visualise patterns when I’m designing bags. Where is your most creative space and why? My workshop is a pretty awesome space. We’ve got a ‘bothy’ style hut as an office – clad in shingles made from recycled wood. It’s a warm space, and we’ve got comfy chairs to sit on while we’re working on…
Interview with Eric Fischer :: Inside Line Equipment
…daypacks for sure. Also, we’re working on a new color scheme thing for the Japanese. And we’re doing a little bit different photo bag. Really, though, we’re always just trying to improve everything we make. One thing that I improved recently is the liners. Instead of sewing the sides of the liners they’re Radio Frequency welded. I really wanted to buy the machine that does this but it’s expensive and it’s huge. It’s a Radio Frequency welder. It he…
Slumdogging in Jakarta
…-liter hard case trolley. This thing is sleek, sturdy and just oozing with Japanese design. Next up is this new travel wallet courtesy of Bellroy. I can’t say too much about it yet other than it’s been a pleasure having this thing as a travel companion halfway around the world – always there, never complains, and keeps out the wet. Then there are the sub-cases. A removable camera cube from Ape Case for the DSLR. Cheap and utilitarian AmazonBasics…
The Brilliance of bagjack
…nd wax canvas; a revolutionary lightweight pack soon to be launched in the Japanese market. His hands fly through every feature and function, all classily hidden, craftily built in. The factory buzzes with orders. I hear the hum of sewing machines, the beeps and grinds of a huge laser cutter slicing precision shapes, the scent of fresh fabrics, German talkback radio in the background. Peter points to a wall of fabric rolls temporarily unorganised…
Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2013 Report (2 of 2)
…rites. The Gregory Label is likely 5th generation, as I was informed by my Japanese collector friend. We are elated to say the acquisition of Gregory Mountain Products by Black Diamond in no way has diminished the vision of the brand. The folks at Gregory repeatedly mention the Quality Assurance lab as one of the great benefits to the quality of their product. The Black Diamond QA lab increases the ability to batch test, stress test, and quality c…
Interview with Francli
…fires. We also connected on our obsession with Scandinavian design values, Japanese aesthetic theory and the rich history of military and workwear clothing. Francli is a combination of our names, we like how it sounds because we wanted to create a brand that’s simple and honest. It’s also fitting because we’re pretty inseparable! We live together and work part-time in the same restaurant. It’s a very close partnership, one that we’ve been warned a…
Design Heads :: Kika Vliegenthart
…ers are super-important. It can destroy a bag if not working properly. Our Japanese buyers are always inspecting all the zippers we use and the way they are put in. What would you love to do if not a bag designer? Any other dreams? We were both documentary filmmakers before and we loved the extensive traveling and exploring new places and new people. But right now I can’t imagine doing something I love more than working in our studio and living in…
Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2014 :: Part 1
…as buzzing. We were excited to find a couple of master-piece bags from the Japanese carry producer. We were introduced to a few new materials and walked away with a hundred ideas and as many swatches. I am personally excited to see high-tenacity materials making a comeback. CO.ALITION The owners of Mile High Mountaineering have successfully funded on Kickstarter (making over 300% of their goal!) a sleek new pack called the Colfax PHD, which is int…
Week In Review ~ 24 August
…, totes and a pouch, constructed using brass hardware, cowhide leather and Japanese jacquard cotton. Streamlined carry that’s music to musicians’ ears Pairing already weighty musical instruments with bulky and heavy carrying cases is a quick way to get in a jam for all the wrong reasons. MONO’s new Guitar Sleeve and Bass Sleeve are designed to bring harmony back to the world of instrument carry thanks to their streamlined style that doesn’t sacrif…
Watch Carry :: Presented by Time+Tide
…ced by CASEBUDi. The hard ballistic nylon clamshell case is secured with a Japanese zipper and can keep a large watch safe from bumps and scratches. Bas & Lokes Manolo Bas & Lokes might already be known to Carryology readers – the Sydney-based leatherworkers make a range of handsome leather carry goods, but they started making watch straps – so watch cases weren’t much of a leap. If you’re only moving one watch around, the Manolo made from oil-tan…
Drive By :: MindShift Gear rotation180° Panorama
…l is a memory foam back panel with air mesh channels. I travelled during a Japanese Winter so keeping my back cool wasn’t really a concern. Pockets: You’ve got a top pocket for quick access to small items. I thought this pocket could have opened wider so that I could get a better view of everything that was in there. But saying that, there’s no rigid structure in this part of the pack so items could start falling out. The upper section of the pack…
Design Heads :: Derick Noffsinger
…ucts and is responsible for their ‘Aspect’ series as well as most of their Japanese stuff. He was also on my team back at Hexhead Design working on the original Thule Crossover Luggage line. There’s tons more people I look up to but I’ll keep it short for now. Are there any trends or things folk do in carry that drive you nuts? Nothing I could think of off the top of my head. You’ve worked with a number of different teams and brands. What are some…
Drive By :: Seventy Eight Percent Dimitri
…rowed” by his girlfriend every now and then. The bag is mostly made out of Japanese cotton canvas and vegetable-tanned Italian leather. It has a main compartment with several pockets, a laptop section and a zippered pocket on the back. There’s a canvas and leather shoulder strap that can be adjusted in length and taken off. The bag has a two-step opening/closure system. Metal buckles on the front go through two holes in the top flap; the bag and t…
Best Active Backpack Finalists :: Third Annual Carry Awards
…Stealth Daypack Every time we’ve spotted this pack slung across traveling Japanese, it’s turned our heads. The details are nailed, the proportions are interesting, and the division of pocketing and sections works well. We love seeing Porter play with more youthful shapes, and it’s something we’d love to see more of in ’15. – Ember Equipement Urban Pack Somewhere between Steampunk and Star Wars lives the modular Ember backpack. Utilising Fidlock m…
Drive By :: Nock Co. Pen Cases
…my pens are upside-down. Pen cases are not new. There a few brand, mostly Japanese, that produce similar rolls. However, I think the ones by Nock Co. represent an important addition to the industdry. First of all, they are produced in the United States. They also have a real “Pen Addict” behind them. Brad has been blogging about his love of pens before there was any business aspect to it. The fit and finish of the product is first class and the p…
Outside Influences – Jason Campbell
…n and Notebook, Topo Designs Accessory Bags, Canon Point and Shoot, 5D III, iPhone 5, Canon 580, Topo Designs Mountain briefcase with a camera bag insert, Spicy Japanese Eyedrops, El Cheapo multitool, Mophie Battery, Canon Battery and charger, PocketWizards…
Buyer’s Guide: Best Travel Backpacks
…need to pack that little bit extra. . Porter Tanker 3 Way Bag World-class Japanese carry brand Porter created a classic when they released this bag. As the name suggests, the bag can be carried three ways – using grab handles, backpack straps or the detachable shoulder strap. A multitude of interior organizing options will keep your gear in order, while Porter’s careful construction and attention to the details ensures this bag will go the distan…
Week In Review ~ 3 November
…g on updated versions of packs from their 2011 sold-out collaboration with Japanese fashion and culture brand BEAMS. The 2012 Incase x BEAMS collaboration features two backpacks based off the Incase Campus pack, in a choice of black canvas with black pebbled leather and gray canvas with navy pebbled leather. – On a modular mission You might have read our post on Mission Workshop’s Arkiv Field Pack. Well now you can get your hands on the Advanced P…
Road Tests :: Lexdray Tokyo Pack
…raining, Alex Drayer has thoughtfully assembled a set of bags that combine Japanese sensibilities with tactical features. Each one is limited to an edition of 550 and share a similar aesthetic. I was sent the Tokyo Pack, one of two backpacks in the collection, to put through its paces. The pack For the past two months, I have been using the bag as part of my EDC (everyday carry). Like a boy scout, I always like to be prepared. And, like our reader…
Road Tests :: Porter Protect Messenger
…knows that we froth for Porter. The god-fathers of good urban carry, this Japanese brand have been producing carry classics for years, with very little exposure to the west. On a recent Tokyo jaunt, we found a little brown messenger that has mostly won Hadrien’s heart. Read on… Initial impressions: During the last few months I’ve been using the Porter Protect messenger for my day to day life, and I love it. It is not a revolution in the messenger…
A week (or three) in carry :: 26th March
…r play with lots of crew. This JW Anderson pack looked spot on for current Japanese vibes. – Fujifilm and Globe-Trotter Globe-Trotter make expensive and rad old school suitcases. Fujifilm thought it would be cool to do a special for a special. It’s special… – Puma Hoodie backpack Puma’s Urban Mobility stuff occasionally throws up some really interesting stuff. While not really something you’d buy, this was a fun statement piece. – Tiffin Lunch Kit…
Week In Review ~ 23 June
…ittle video to help keep the packing woes at bay. Beauty Meets Backpacking Japanese label master-piece keeps coming out with innovative carry and the new SLASH backpack is no exception. The pack is constructed from a hard-wearing SUNBRELLA fabric and incorporates a 1000 Denier CORDURA and acrylic cotton blend, in addition to leather accents. The pack is available in three primary colours of black, navy and beige. Picture Perfect: Tommy Camera Bag…
Buyer’s Guide :: Work Messengers
…eeper. Interested? Buy it now. – (R) Porter Protect One day, a switched-on Japanese expat is going to convince these guys to open the brand up properly to we gaijin. Until that day though, we have to pick from the limited styles that make it out of Japan. The Protect series doesn’t do anything crazy innovative, but nor does it make any mistakes. We love this thing. Interested? Buy it now. – (R) Mission Workshop Rummy (and VX) Yeah, maybe we talk a…
Week In Review ~ 29 September
…eatures a Citizen messenger and Yalta rolltop with design detail by master Japanese tattooist Horitoshi1, providing a fantastic blend of style and functionality. Freewheeling fashion A bag that suits cyclists and fashionistas alike – does such a creature exist? Well, yes, actually. The Brooks Piccadilly Knapsack is sleek and streamlined which is useful for cyclists but its chic style also makes it appealing to the fashion-conscious. The knapsack i…
5 Minutes w/Shai Levy
…t for you guys? More bags and accessories, of course… We just launched raw Japanese denim versions of our Harrison Fold Collection. We are working on a collection of travel bags. We will be releasing a new tote bag very soon. We are also busy growing our retail base to allow more people around the world to touch and feel our bags. – 5 – What do you carry daily and how? – I usually move around three bags. Most of the time I carry our Dimitri satche…
Week In Review ~ 13 October
…gs What do you get when you cross an American fashion brand with a coveted Japanese carry brand? A Jaybird. No, this is not a new endeavor into the world of portable pets but rather a backpack stemming from a collaboration between Porter and rag & bone. This Cordura nylon pack features leather accents, side pockets and an inner zip pocket, as well as adjustable shoulder and waist straps. If you’re keen to get your hands on one you can do so here….
EDC Keys: Pocket Dump/Key Carry/Road Tests (1 of 3)
…left pocket: – iPhone 5 (no case) Rear right pocket: – Bandanna (some rad Japanese printed cotton I picked up in Tokyo) Rear left pocket: – Koozie (absolutely necessary to have at all times living in Austin, TX) 5th pocket: – Currently empty, I used to keep a Bic or DJeep lighter in there Additional: – I also keep a secret $20 folded up tightly behind the button snaps where my leather belt folds over on itself for the belt buckle closure. This sp…
Buyer’s Guide – Casual Backpacks
…ve had a little burst of creativity recently, and their collaboration with Japanese retailer royalty is a worthy mention. We need to mention that we haven’t yet had a chance to play with this bag, but it looks so fine that we wanted to squeeze it into our list regardless. Interested? Buy it now. [R] Blk Pine Workshop Solid. Unfussy. Nailed proportions. Understated cool. Interested? Buy it now. Buck Products I’ve worked in a famous design studio wh…
Road Tests :: Seventy Eight Percent Gustav
…interview with Seventy Eight Percent’s Shai Levy. First look Removing the Japanese cotton canvas and Italian leather bag from its natural colored cotton slip the care in construction is immediately obvious. If I’ve never lusted after what most people would consider a “luxury” item before, why the change of heart? Was it the form? Simple in design, rich in well thought out details. This could easily explain it. Was it the material? Long have I sea…
5 Minutes w/ Barrett Alley
…It’s interesting actually because these companies are Italian, Russian and Japanese, respectively. With American design companies you see a lot of the two extremes – either the “simple Puritan” style, or the “hyperactive mess” style. In the end, the hardest part about design is to actually design. It’s a razor-thin path and it’s easy to overdo it, or not do it at all. 4 – What’s next for you guys? We have a lot of cool ideas for future products in…