Earlier this summer lucky Los Angelinos welcomed Poketo's 4,000 square foot storefront to 3rd Street in Downtown—an airy sunlit space clad in raw plywood that owners Angie Myung and Ted Vadakan call the "actual realization of what you see online." While the shop carries a selection of items not available online, including some rarer products from Poketo's archives, the rest of the world can rest assured that the bulk of their goods are still available online, as well as in your nearest Target store soon (their second paper goods collaboration with Target was just announced).
Before Poketo was around, you felt privileged if you happened to stumble upon the kind of simple, colorful, minimalist desk accessories and notebooks that they're best known for. But lest you think Poketo is just a cutesy stationery store, Myung and Vadakan rigorously curate their offerings and regularly work with artists and designers to develop new collections especially for their shop. Aside from their iconic striped backpacks, some of our favorite products include the Stand by Me spiral planner, made more perfect with the addition of a string closure manila envelope attached to the front cover, an improvement over the pocket in the back of Moleskine notebooks. The moment you use that pocket it becomes impossible to actually write on the pages, but by simply moving that feature to the front cover you make the same notebook vastly more useful.
We also love the Tyvek Tote, a durable and affordable ($12) utility bag that finds a great use for the underutilized material. The bag is made from one single sheet of Tyvek, which is tear resistant, waterproof and can hold more than 25 pounds. It folds up and tucks away when you don't need it, making it perfect for the farmers market. We want one for the beach, and hope Poketo releases a few striped options soon. The Tyvek Tote was made in Los Angeles by designer Thomas Im. See all the artists and designers Poketo works with, and stop by next time you're in town.
Create a Core77 Account
Already have an account? Sign In
By creating a Core77 account you confirm that you accept the Terms of Use
Please enter your email and we will send an email to reset your password.