bltd

This bag toes the line between man-purse and messenger bag, and that’s its exact magic. No need to carry a bag bigger than you need, after all, and you just look like a dork when you stuff too much stuff in your pockets. Just in case you had a fleeting thought that involved a belt bag (a.k.a. fanny pack) as a solution, let’s just clear things up: yes, you will get punched in the face if you wear one of those atrocities. The fist may or may not belong to me. So, solve the issue safely and keep your face intact with the Axial from Modern Industry. It’s handmade in San Francisco, California, using 10.10oz Martexin Original Waxed Canvas.

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Why do you need an aluminum lunch box? Who knows. Maybe you’re a little clumsy, and tend to drop your lunch bag repeatedly to the point where your sandwich, fruit, and/or chips are no longer recognizable. And that’s no fun, is it? With an aluminum lunch box you’d be hard pressed to do any damage, unless there’s a car or other heavy machinery involved in your daily commute, in which case I wish you the very best of luck. Too bad this box doesn’t have a handle, though, as that would make it a little easier to carry around, don’t you think?
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You know what’s so special about this backpack? It’s pared down to the absolute essentials- that’s important to those of us that prefer a minimal look- and there’s a few thoughtful design details that makes packing and unpacking a breeze. Sounds good, right? There’s also a feature that hides away the backpack straps for a more professional look so you can go straight from the airport to business meetings. See Minaal’s video below, or visit Kickstarter to learn more and/or back the project.
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A tote that transitions into a messenger bag sounds like a winner. Made from waxed canvas and vegetable tanned leather, Modern Industry’s Faraday Tote will hold all manner of your gear thanks to its generous proportions. The messenger strap stows away when not in use, and in either formats a 15″ laptop easily fits. There looks to be a limited number in each color available, so don’t dawdle around.

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Simple and utilitarian are two of my favorite adjectives when describing gadget sleeves and bags, so of course this collection by Charbonize gets a spotlight. Using vegetable tanned leather and recycled wool felt, each piece is created by hand in their workshop and follows the aim of “being simple, timeless and functional”. And don’t worry, the wool is anti-piling & water repellent. Now available in the US via HORNE.
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Those of us that prefer to avoid ‘i-am-carrying-a-backpack-and-i-am-SPORTY’ look can now breathe easy for this backpack has the look of a regular bag. A side handle gives an option to carry/hold it in briefcase mode, and a Neoprene protection cover keeps your laptop safe and sound. Take a look at the photos to see how the bag opens up completely.

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If you’re fond of Issey Miyake’s faceted bags or, more specifically, the Geo Pillow by Mika Barr, then you might just want to check out this bag from Kisim. It’s made in collaboration with Barr (hence the name of the bag), so you can have the same 3D fabric functioning as a carry-all for all your essentials.
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If you’re not in need of a some kind of a zipper pouch for travel needs, desk supplies, or to keep your bag organized, then you need to write some kind of book on minimal living. I won’t buy it, of course, because I’m planning on buying a couple of Izola’s zipper pouches to tuck away all manner of miscellany, thus solving any clutter in my bag or suitcase, not to mention my everyday work surface. Also, there are Dopp Kits done in the same color/material with appropriate text if you need to update yours.
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Among the many varieties of wallet/iPhone cases is Distil Union’s Wally. It’s an attachable leather pocket that keeps your credit cards close at hand, with a pull-tab that conceals/reveals contents. It won’t hold all your George Costanza-like receipts and such, as there’s just room for around 3 cards, so maybe it will force you to only keep what’s necessary. The Wally attaches directly to the iPhone (and most cases) with an adhesive backing.
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If you get around the neighborhood by bicycle and you and/or your friends like to drink anything in a bottle, this was made for you. Made of sturdy canvas, the sides of the 6 Pack Bag are secured with Velcro, ensuring your cargo gets to your destination safe and sound. (I suppose you could also use this to transport your bottles from the grocery store, though you’d have to mess with unpacking them from their cardboard carton first.)
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Yes, it did take a while for MoMA to feature New York City in its Destination series, but at least they have now, and we’ve got a nice selection of home-grown design to consider. You’ll see a few things featured here on BLTD, of course, the first of which is the Blokket by The Way We See The World. Blokket is a pouch made of a silver and nylon material that blocks cellular signals. So, if you want to fully dedicate your attention to your dining partner, you can take your phone out of the equation by placing it inside the pouch. You could also just completely turn it off, which is the obvious solution. However, the Blokket also protects against identity theft by
unauthorized RFID readers, which means your slip chipped ID cards and/or passport is safe from prying radio frequencies when inside, especially useful if you might be involved in espionage. Take a look at the whole Destination:NYC series over at the MoMA Store.
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Here’s another bag called JetPack, but this design reuses workers’ safety vests to make sure you remain visible at night, biking or walking. With a cross-body style, the shoulder strap and two stripes on the back reflect light, giving you an effective ‘HEY! I’m here!’ visual cue to any vehicles around you. See below for details.
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This backpack won’t make you fly, but it does utilize a faceted fabric that expands/contracts according to the bag’s contents, which is just as good, really. What else besides this interesting visual effect? It has the requisite laptop sleeve (faux fur), two zippered compartments, places for pens and pencils, as well as another internal sleeve for an iPad or sketchbook. So, room for everything plus the very cool faceted fabric, all for $60. See Kickstarter for more details.
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A carry-all made of authentic World War II military tent canvas seems like a good choice to survive the everyday wear and tear of commuting from home to the workplace battlefield. Simple leather straps and front pocket keeps things minimal for our modern day civilian lives. Also available with tan straps/pocket.
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Just look at all the tools that this thin, minimal wallet has integrated into its surface: bottle opener, nested wrench, ruler, bit holder, box opener, and even a smartphone/tablet stand. If you don’t mind the metal aspect for the wallet function, you could have all these tools sandwiching your cash and cards, at the ready for whenever you might need them. Sure, it’s a little clunky, but it is metal, after all. See video below for more.
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