Bellroy XO Barneys New York Collection

Blimey. Those guys at Bellroy are at it again.

You'd have thought, for most brands, creating a couple of lines of quality products would be enough - launch the product, sell a few, sit back, and sell some more. But, not Bellroy. They just keep pushing forward, innovating, updating, and collaborating.

For their latest release they've worked with Barneys New York to create ultra-high end, luxury versions of their travel-ready range. The collection features five reimagined Bellroy designs; The Travel Wallet, Passport Sleeve, Hide & Seak Wallet, Slim Sleeve and Card Sleeve. Each one is made from premium vegatable-tanned leather, lined with charcoal nubuck suede and finished with hand-painted edges.

The slight problem is that they're only available throught Barneys stores + online. That's a long way off for us, but hopefully someone we know gets a chance to get down there soon.

The Bellroy XO Barneys New York collection is released mid-August.

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This Week's Kit | Commuter Essential

Disney Micky Mouse Watch | Micro Sleeve Wallet c/ Bellroy | Field Notes Cherrywood Notepad | Cable Tidy c/o Holdall + co | Umbrella Magazine Issue 14

Ever since I started using Bellroy products I've found myself cutting back on the excess I carry around. My regular (but what now feels huge) wallet still has its use, but mainly for the days when I'm out shopping or traveling. I actually wasn't sure if I'd have much use for the Micro Sleeve card holder when it first arrived, but now it never leaves my pocket.

The Bellroy Micro Sleeve has enough space for your essentials; six cards and a couple of notes. It's made from full-grain vegetable tanned leather and comes in five colour variations. Now, if only they could simplify my jangling key situation...

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Bellroy Elements Phone Pocket Plus

Ey-up, those guys from Bellroy are back. We've covered them a few times now and perhaps people are beginning to think we work for them! Well, we don't - not yet, anyway - but they're constantly putting our great products that we want to tell everyone about. So really it's their fault, not ours!

The thing I love about Bellroy is that they're not really a wallet company; instead, they're a (management type speak coming up) 'storage solutions' company. My words, not theirs. It's true and their latest Elements Phone Pocket Plus range shows that perfectly. This isn't a wallet, it's a clever way of storing your valuables (and damageables) when out and about - especially if you do anything particular active. I'm looking at you Rick!

Even if you're not into an action wallet, it's probably going to come in handy if you head outside for any less active reasons. I'm taking mine to Glastonbury, guaranteed. If anyone finds Bellroy case with a phone, keys, and no money in it - that's mine! Nik.

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Bellroy Elements Travel In Action

Our friends at Bellroy just keep knocking them out the park. We featured their new range of all-weather Elements Travel carry goods on the blog a couple of weeks back, but they've gone and pulled together a short video together, which shows of the collection to its full potential. Perfect for my burgeoning travel objectives.

Click play and enjoy.

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A Weekend Away #HeresToNow

Apologies for the silence for a the last couple of days, we headed off to a "mystery" destination with French Cognac brand Courvoisier. It was one of the most surreal experiences of my life (Nik came along too, he heard there might be some food...), due to the fact we were kept in the dark about what we'd be doing and where we'd be good. 

The first shot is from the top of Parc des Buttes-Chaumont in Paris, I could forgive myself for thinking it was all a dream. Can't wait to share more of our #HereToNow experience.

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Marc by Marc Jacobs:Leather 

Bellroy Travel & Elements Collection

 Elements Sleeve

We’ve featured Bellroy on Buckets & Spades before. They’re an Australian brand who’ve tackled the problem of unsightly bulging wallets extremely well, producing a range of slim wallets, designed to hold a number of cards and currency from every country.

For their latest range, Bellroy have moved from fashion to function - although keeping their style, of course. Their Travel and Elements range are designed to be hardwearing and able to protect your possessions from (you guessed it) the elements; be that while cycling, traveling or at a waterpark.

Elements Travel Wallet

We managed to get our hands on three of the collection. The first, and possibly my favourite, is the Elements sleeve. It’s tiny! Only slightly wider and longer than a credit card, yet it can hold an untold number of cards (I have three in there) and some cash. The small tab-pulled drawstring helps you get the cards out and a slot on the front is perfect for a Oyster card or any other card that you need to remove frequently. My only concern is that I might lose it one day. It’s that small!

We also have the Hide & Seek and the Passport Sleeve. With room for about a million cards and secret foldaway pockets that allow cash, coins, and cards to be hidden from view, the former is probably more function over style. I don’t think I’ll ever enough cash to warrant such a large wallet. Still, good to know I can hide some away if I do!

Passport Sleeve

The Passport Sleeve is far more stylish. Sleek and thin, the tan version looks great with the orange and white stitching. Again, the guys at Bellroy have thought things through. Not only does it hold a passport (obviously), but it has space for cash, cards, and a very clever boarding pass holder. Oh, and did I mention a tiny Bellroy that slots in the top?
 

 Elements Pocket Wallet

Bellroy do keep coming up with great ideas, developing subtle innovations that add to a wallets function, while reducing its bulk and offering something stylish. The kind you like to leave lying around on tables to show off. For more information on the Travel & Elements Collection click here. - Nik

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Noise Goods Interview | With Love From Portugal

Instagram has been in our daily diet of social media for a few years now. It's an invaluable tool for wanderlust + inspiration as much as it is for killing time of the daily commute. For me I've found it incredibly useful as a way of discovering talented designers, illustrators and brands from all over the world. One of those such is a leather accessories brand from Portugal named Noise Goods. After a few weeks of chatting to the man behind Noise Goods, Pedro Fernandes, I decided to place an order for their handmade Coin Wallet. Following on from I decided to turn our emails into an interview, they have a worthy story to share.

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Buckets & Spades - First off, tell us a little but about Noise Goods, your background, and how you started the brand?

Pedro Fernandes - I was motivated by the need of change. I've never cared much about the fashion industry and I know we already have too much clutter around us. I realised that all my buying choices were pretty bad, but my wallet was even worse. I bought a lot of wallets that lasted a couple of months, and even worse, I really didn't much liked them. I started developing my own wallet just for fun–the Coin Wallet–and quickly found myself with the knowledge to start a brand motivated by those principles. Developing products that last longer than the majority, have a rugged, acute aesthetics, and that are environmentally and economically more responsible by choosing local resources.

Jaqet Flip Wallet | Handmade in California

I’d never normally have enough money to fill a money clip. By coincidence, when Jaqet sent their latest flip wallet to me, I’d just cashed in lots of change and had enough money to test it out.

A money clip is a garish thing really, reserved mainly for striped-shirted bankers who want to show off and members of Floyd Mayweather’s Money Team. I can see the benefits though. Like the wallets from Bellroy, they reduce the bulk surrounding your money, so fit much more neatly in the pocket of your tailored suit or skinny jeans.

The flip wallet from Jaqet is a money clip, but one sandwiched between a strip of leather. It’s a more refined and less conspicuous look. It’s still extraordinarily slim, so tucks away neatly, and leaves space for a card or two in the folded pockets at each end. I’ve found it’s a great replacement for an Oyster Card wallet, as the leather is thin enough to read the card through, while the clip is strong enough that you’re not scrabbling across the floor to pick up your cash for five minutes afterwards.

My only issue with the wallet is it’s size. Clearly made for US currency, it’s ever-so-slightly too small for a twenty pound note, leaving an ugly edge protruding - although I don’t often have many of those, so it’s not a huge problem. Perhaps this is one Mat should have taken for throwing the dollars around on his trips to Orlando… - Nik
 

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Orlando #4

A few things I've been enjoying in Orlando over the last couple of days - Wallpaper* June14, Ray-Ban Wayfarers, Kona Brewing Big Wave Golden Ale, Kjøre Project Phone + Card Wallet. I'm finding the wallet especially handy for my travels, as it keeps all your stuff handy in one place; notes, coins, phone, cards etc.

Thanks to Kjøre Project for sending this over for my holidays.

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Bellroy Wallets | Helping You Travel Light

I once read that men shouldn’t actually use the pockets of their trousers, jeans, or jackets, instead they should carry their belongings in a trendy man bag (*Edit by Mat - like all my bags Nik?). Possibly an advertorial for a bag manufacturer trying to tap a new market rather than a genuine comment on style, I think most people would disagree - if this were the case, what would pockets be for?

That said, a wallet stuffed with receipts, store cards, and loyalty stamps from twelve different coffee shops, along with an old Nokia 6310, creates the sort of unsightly bulge that would concern even Larry David. Not to mention the damage it’ll do to the stitching of your expensive suit.

Bellroy - a relatively new brand from Australia - produce wallets that are designed to be neat and slim without forcing you to leave all of your credit cards at home, although you’ll still need to ditch the receipts. I had one for Christmas - their Note Sleeve. The smallest of their wallets that doesn’t require you to fold your cash, it holds five cards, some coins, and fits currency of all sizes. No more £20 note edges sticking out over the top. It’s a really nice wallet and pretty robust. I recently filled it with endless amounts of Namibian Rand (a UK value of around £100) and it still did the job of staying slim.

Now Bellroy have brought out an even slimmer wallet by cutting down the material used to make their Slim Sleeve. Their new Nude Approach is demo-ed in this cool animation, which shows just how little material it actually uses it.

I think the Bellroy Note Sleeve is possibly only the fourth wallet I’ve ever owned, so am by no means an expert on what’s available on the market. I’d be interested to hear what others have found out there? - You can Tweet me @nikspeller.

You can find Nik at - Conrad's Beer |  Twitter | Instagram

Holdall & Co. - British Made Leather Goods

 Our love of British made products has strengthened over the past couple of years and it's probably starting to bore a few of you! I guess a few things changed when the economy got ballsed up, with less money to spare being a major factor. But when the time came to buy something we'd research into all the options, be more considered with our choices and make sure every penny was spent wisely. We wanted value for money but above all, a great product. I started this blog nearly six years ago as a means to share things I love and believe in and today's post is no different. 

It takes hard work, long hours and dedication to create and run a brand but to do it alone is a whole different ballgame. Holdall & Co. was created in 2012 by Raimonda Navickaite, off the back of her love of British made vintage cases and bags. Her aim was too design a small range of items that were, "timeless yet classically modernist; a product that was made from the highest quality materials, by expert hands, so that it could go on to become a vintage piece with your own story."

Navickaite is hands of with every side of the business, leaving only the construction to the experts. Her designs are turned into a reality by traditionally trained craftspeople in Northampton, England. Above is The Slipcase, which has room for an iPad, notebook and your other bits and bobs, The Billfold Wallet and The Cardfold Case, which would be a great addition for any commuters. Each product is currently available in Chestnut and Tan. Currently Holdall & Co. is offering a free wallet (worth £60) when you purchase one of their Folio Cases!

For more information on Holdall & Co. visit here.

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H&B London - Made In England Leather Wallet

Wearing - 55DSL Jacket via TKMaxx, Crest Jumper c/o Reiss, Levi's 511, Boots c/o UGG, Ralph Lauren Socks. Vintage Gloves.

Buying into well known and established brands is usually a good sign that you're spending your money on a quality item. But what happens when those products don't match up to their price tags? Stephen Brister found himself faced with that same problem. Over the years Brister experimented with various brands, both well known in the industry and via recommendations, but he was never happy with the quality and construction.

The conclusion was not to keep searching for the perfect wallet but to find a way of producing it by himself, and in 2012 Brister left his job in the city to pursue his passion, founding H&B London. Armed with designs for the perfect wallet buzzing around in his head, he enlisted the expert help of a small leather goods workshop in Bethnal Green, London and set to work.

The resulting product is a work of art. As soon as I opened the box I knew that a H&B wallet was the real deal. A classically designed piece which doesn't compromise on construction; the quality is something I can imagine my Grandad giving the nod of approval to. Designed to fit seamlessly into a jacket or trouser pocket and constructed in the finest Italian leather, I would go so far to say that the British Racing Green Billfold Wallet is by far the most stylish accessory I have ever owned. Currently, H&B stock a small range of leather goods and cufflinks, each piece being hand crafted with care and attention in their London studio.

Stopping off at the local for a pint also seemed like the perfect opportunity to also try out the super comfy UGG Kaldwell boots and this new wool jumper from Reiss. Looks like the classiness is rubbing off!

For more information on H&B London visit here.

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