Vintage Backpack | Amsterdam (NL)

Well-worn pieces are often the sign of good design built with purpose and functionality in mind. We spotted this vintage backpack by Amsterdam based concept store Six and Sons in their extensive collection that ranges from furniture, homeware, clothing and accessories.

Available at Six and Sons

Siwa Series by ONAO Co. | Yamanashi (JAP)

Japanese paper (washi) manufacture ONAO Co. sits in the town of Ichikawamisato in Japan's Yamanashi prefecture, a place that boasts a century-old history of paper making. The Siwa Series (pictured) is the product of a collaboration between industrial designer Naoto Fukasawa and ONAO Co., born out of Fukasawa's admiration for Naoron, a strong and tear-resistant paper developed by the company.

The name SIWA is the reverse of characters in the word washi (wasi) as well as a word that means 'crinkle' in Japanese. The collection uses ONAO Co.'s sturdy Naoron as the primary material to create their well designed, everyday goods. Similarly to their leather goods, the washi products are individually crafted and above is a sample of our favourite everyday essentials including a money wallet, shopper bag, wine bag and string bound envelopes.

Available at ONAO Co.

The Outsiders: New Outdoor Creativity

The proliferation of outdoor and travel writing in recent years has signalled a yearning for untouched landscapes and the truly rural. Many urban environments are filled with inhabitants who fantasise about escaping uncompromising grid systems but are unable to satiate their thirst for the the wild. To bridge this gap, there is a new generation of outdoor explorers using urban design and creative thinking to navigate unruly terrains.

The Outsiders: New Outdoor Creativity by Gestalten explores the relationship between the urban creative and the outdoors and features interviews with leaders from across the outdoor sector that include Patagonia, Poler and Snow Peak. By considering travellers' needs in line with functional and aesthetically strong design, the brands and ideas presented in this book accommodate the demands of the urban dweller in an outdoor setting.

Complemented by an inspirational and rich selection of photography, The Outsiders, edited by Jeffrey Bowman, Sven Ehmann and Robert Klanten, includes insights from designers Geoff McFetridge and Groovisions, polar explorer Arved Fuchs, expedition paddler Mark Kalch and champion free-skier Ane Enderud. A recommended read for the curious explorer.

Available from Paper Cut.

Shinola x Public Supply Pencils | Detroit (USA)

Public Supply is a New York based store producing high quality writing, art and office essentials that provide public school teachers with resources to help support creative work in the classroom.

With a belief that every student has the right to an arts education, Public Supply have collaborated with Detroit watchmaker Shinola to create a limited run of 500 pencil sets in Shinola's signature orange colour. The set of 12 classic pencils includes a rubber eraser and standard No.2 graphite core; a percentage of all profits will support creative arts classrooms in Detroit Public Schools and each box has a hand-stamped tracking ID that allows its owner to locate the exact classroom they helped to fund.

Available from Shinola.

Farmers Racer | Nybro (SWE)

In a world increasingly driven by speed, the art of slow production is being forgotten. By using slow traditional techniques, Lars Gustavsson, the gentleman behind Farmers Racer, has created a well-crafted product range based on the Swedish farmers and industrial workers of the Småland countryside who built and raced self-made motorcycles through the meadows and spruce forests.

Crafted in the South East of Sweden, all Farmers Racer products are bench-made using unique materials and careful craftsmanship. Time and dedication goes into making each waxed cotton backpack, created by one person from start to finish; a nod to the hard work and traditional production methods of the Småland countryside workers.