Architect Bag | Nendo x TODS | Tokyo (JAP) | By Lee Fleming

The IDMC° team have followed the work of Tokyo-based design studio Nendo for some time. Founded by Oki Sato in 2002, Nendo (meaning "clay" in Japanese) designs interior architecture, furniture and graphics. June 2015 saw Nendo collaborate with Tod's to create a morphable Architect Bag, designed with the architect in mind.

n the extended form, the bag holds a full-size A3 drawing as well as samples with quite a bit of length. Folding it into half creates two spaces where you can store A4 size drawings and documents, and the middle part of the flex section houses rolled-up drawings, heavy catalogues or books and samples of construction materials. With the ability to store away the two handles, you can turn it into a clutch bag when you have fewer things to carry.

Visit the Nendo website to read more.

Photography by Akihiro Yoshida.

Scout Seattle | Reissue: Boy Scout Diary 17th Edition | Seattle (USA) | By Lee Fleming

Ben Masters of Washington-based Scout Seattle presents an ever-growing collection of durable and stylish camping kit items alongside one-of-a-kind reissue pieces sourced from around the world. Each piece from the Reissue Collection has a remarkable story to tell and encapsulates the history of different people, places and eras. The Boy Scout Diary (17th Edition), published by The Boy Scouts of America National Council in 1929 (pictured) caught my eye in particular - a quintessential Boy Scout Handbook for those who remember ‘doing a good turn daily'. The 256-page handbook has it all covered, from ‘Badges and Insignia’, ‘How to Fold Clothes’, ‘Weather Signal Flags’, ‘Indian Sign Language’, ‘Songs’ and even a chart of ‘The International Metric System’.

To view the Reissue collection or to purchase the Boy Scout Diary, visit the Scout Seattle website.

Terrapin Stationers | New York (US) | By Lee Fleming

A family business since 1913, Terrapin Stationers & Engraving Co. have produced some of the finest engraved and embossed stationery in New York for over a century. Previously run by husband-and-wife team Lloyd and Cathy Harrington, the business has surfed the waves of time in an ever-changing industry, spanning from the advent of the fax machine to the first ever email, pulled through by their dedication and craftsmanship.

When Lloyd and Cathy retired in 2010, son Ted and his wife Cathy took over and continue to produce a line of notes, business and calling cards alongside an in-house stationery collection made in their print studio on 37th Street. Crafted from the highest quality cotton and card stock, each piece is pressed to form sharply defined, raised impressions that, according to Terrapin ‘have made engraving the preferred method of high-end printing for centuries’.

Read more about Terrapin Stationers on their website and check their stockist list here.

Lyon & Lyon | Six Mile Pencil | Sheffield (UK) | By Lee Fleming

A stationary staple, the humble pencil is perhaps ‘old fashioned’ and no longer the first desktop tool you’d reach for. However, inspired by our fixation with hi-tech gadgetry, Sheffield-based design agency Lyon & Lyon have created the Six Mile Pencil, a low tech tool that measures how far you've drawn by using a mile ruler printed on the body.

Twin duo Matt and Ben Lyon have updated the pencil’s 500 year design after learning that the pencil can draw for up to six miles/ten kilometres. The Six Mile Pencil contains enough graphite to cover this distance and the product, created by the agency, boasts a simple, colourful and striking design. Lyon & Lyon were keen to use a traditional pencil manufacturer in the process and turned to Nottingham-based Chambers, a 90 year old family run business and one of the last pencil manufacturers remaining in the UK.

Check out The Six Mile Pencil kickstarter page that includes the chance to own a limited edition drawing by award-winning artist Roanna Wells whose specialty is intricate pencil strokes to create her artwork. Lyon & Lyon have also collaborated with legendary British artist Jon Burgerman who will be creating a one off illustration that contains six miles worth of his acclaimed doodles. Visit the Lyon & Lyon website to find out more about The Six Mile Pencil and support their kickstarter here.

Packable Travel Vest by Battenwear | New York (USA) | By Lee Fleming

Based in Brooklyn, Battenwear create well-crafted clothing that's designed to endure the demands of the great outdoors whilst remaining suitable for everyday wear. A favourite with the contemporary adventurer, Battenwear designer Shinya Hasegawa (who previously worked and trained under Daiki Suzuki for Woolrich Woollen Mills) takes inspiration from late 1960s to early 1980s surf and outdoor wear. A passionate East Coast surfer, Hasegawa's own travel experiences offer essential design references when creating Battenwear's seasonal collections. All garments are made in the USA with the majority made within a three-block radius of the atelier’s New York office and showroom in Brooklyn's garment district.

With functionality in mind, Battenwear's clothing and accessories are designed to be versatile, multi-functional, easily packable and comfortable. A particular IDMC° favourite from their recently new Autumn/Winter collection is the Packable Travel Vest. For journeys with unpredictable weather conditions and temperatures, the Packable Travel Vest is a great suitcase essential, it can be easily packed into its own front pocket and is crafted from 60-Gram PrimaLoft® SPORT in a super fine, lightweight shell. The Packable Travel Vest is available from Independence (Chicago).

To view all of the Battenwear Autumn/Winter 2014 collection visit their website.