Is it Spring Yet?
With all that snow and ice from the Mid-West to the North East, I'm sure almost everyone is ready for Spring and some warm weather too. I know Neiko is - so much that we designed a collection of vibrant Market Bags to lift the winter blues.
The inspiration of this collection stems from our support of all farmers' markets - we are huge fans of the one at Union Square in New York city. We LOVE to eat but we also love to shop - especially for fresh ingredients.
If you live or lived in New York or any major urban environment - you know you will need a huge bag to carry all your fresh goodies. Those market trips can be very painful if you don't have the luxury of cabbing it, driving it or being driven. These market bags are perfect, they fit over the shoulder or can be hand-held for a more "manly" appearance. For you localvores this is the perfect shopping bag - all our products are handmade in New York city
What Do You Get For the Person Who has Everything or Nothing?
Yes it's that time of the year again and we here at Neiko are merrier than not for this holiday season. Oh what Joy to be asked to design a few exclusive products for a new hip concept store in Vancouver, Canada. It's so exclusive and so hip that you have to physically go to Vancouver to get one...two....or all of them. Sorry folks as of now it is not available online. But this will give you a good excuse to visit Vancouver.
Caya, an acronym for Come As You Are, the new store and brand was launched this past October, by TELUS Corporation, a large telecommunications company in Canada. While offering customers a unique and upscale shopping experience, Caya is the first-of-its-kind retail brand that focuses on selling a variety of wireless handsets, advanced photo and printing technology along with stylish accessories. While mulling over which phones or accessories to purchase, you can enjoy their gorgeous space with its 20-foot ceilings and designer lighting.
So when you arrive in Vancouver, swing on by to Caya, located downtown at the corner of Davie and Howe - with its impressive space you won't be able to miss it. Go in and pickup a Neiko bag....or if you must.... pick something else from Caya's unique collection. Happy Holidays!
A Good Beating
Good choice people. I'm generally not into loud or flashy items but I have to admit when I spotted this camouflage leather from Italy I had to stock up on it - even without a design in mind. We kind of work backwards here at Neiko - buy the materials first then come up with the designs. Not bright at all but a nice combination of green, brown, and black. Anyhow, we've been getting a few orders of Alex and each one made gets better and better - this is the latest one.
I'm not attached to too many things but I have to admit I love Alex. I actually carry one myself and I've been using the bag for over 2 years now. I can't emphasize what a great carry-on and travel companion this bag has been. Its been with me to Morocco and Argentina and I plan on using it on more trips coming up. I've stuffed it with shoes, outfits, laptop, books, toiletries.....and I've actually used it as a grocery bag. Lets just say this bag has had its share of usage and the best part is it gets better looking through use and time. Now that's what I call a good beating.
It's all in the straps
"Finally"....is what my boyfriend said to me after finishing this bag for him. He's requested a bag from me for the past 3 years. If you are wondering what the hold up was...well everything I've made for him over the years were not "manly" or "masculine" enough for him but ironically he emails me this article the other day on (he periodically sends me other designer's works he likes and sometimes will hint he would like a similar design) Makr Carry Goods, a handbag company. The opening line in the article reads "People are sick of that tech look -- nylon, overly masculine," says Jason Gregory, owner and designer of the company. Mr. Gregory is right, his Farm Ruck Sack is not overly masculine at all. So what features or details on a bag makes it not masculine, somewhat masculine, or just simply masculine?? According to him, it's all in the straps but he tells me this after the fact.
Good and bad, I decided to show him what I've made so far and the first thing he said was, "Nice bag but I'm not carrying that." Confused by his statement since we both agreed on the bag design. He says it's the straps, it's not wide enough and too soft - he described it as "wimpy looking". He wanted the wider and thicker nylon straps. Taking his advice, I took apart the whole back section and used his suggested straps and I hate to agree but he is right. The straps make all the difference. I wanted to take this bag and do all manly things like mountain bike, play football, smoke a cigar, and drink a dark brew.
Have you had your V8 today?
Okay its been awhile since we've had some new designs but nonetheless here it is, our new V8 collection. The problem with designing is getting inspired, which isn't an issue it's narrowing down the inspirations into one. I have always been fascinated by the timeless elegance and style from the 1950's through the 1960's in America. To me it's a lost era of all things defined by simplicity where design took on sharp, strong lines and a clean aesthetic, which we do not see in most designs of today.
Last year, a friend of mine had forwarded me an interesting blog posted on 37Signals, titled Do Americans have bad taste? Yes, unfortunately most Americans do have bad taste but I agree that it hasn't always been the case. I don't know what happened within the past decades but design and the choices availed to us are simply put - horrific. Simple is dead. Everything is saturated with guad and tackiness....but who am I to judge?
I have to admit, I don't really follow the Indianapolis 500 races but looking at some of Frank Kurtis's designs were most inspiring. Neiko's V8 is a tribute to his work and paying respect to that lost era of good design.
