“We believe in functionality and quality that stands the test of time,” says Eales. “All of our upcycled products are guaranteed to be 100 percent unique, and have a lifetime warrantee. In return, this will reduce the amount of waste in landfills. We are proud to have our roots in Cape Town, South Africa.”

Heritage Backpack by Herschel Supply $39.99 A fun choice for a compact backpack available in both Kids and Youth sizes.

Greenland backpack by Fjällräven, $130 at fjallraven.com It's impossible not to look sharp lugging books to class in this heavy-duty backpack from Fjällräven, the Swedish outfitter that gave us the Kånken pack. In addition to the two bellow pockets on the front, the Greenland an internal "safety pocket" and a flat pocket with a padded bottom, ideal for a laptop.

They come with a double-sided adhesive so they can attach to flat surfaces, or hang from a keychain loop.

Puma UM Backpack by KiBiSi. Designed in 2005. Photo courtesy of KiBiSi

The muted tones of the Duo Totepack (show here in Moss) offers a minimal, neutral way to carry all your items on the go. bellroy.com/pro...

Topo Designs Klettersack 22L Backpack, $169 at store.dwell.com Handmade in Colorado with 1000d Cordura fabric, this steamlined backpack's cloth-lined inteiror holds 22 liters of volume. Leather lash tabs can hold extra gear or serve as simple decorative features, making this item perfect for daily commutes or longer-distance journeys.

Colorado–based Topo Designs creates backpacks and packs, clothing, and apparel that capture a decidedly outdoor spirit, while still maintaining a streamlined aesthetic that communicates with urban adventurers too. The classic Klettersack Backpack is designed with travel and commuting in mind. The spacious pack can hold up to 22 liters, while the slim silhouette ensures that it is not overly bulky. The exterior of the pack is made from 1000d Cordura fabric, and the interior of the backpack is lined in cloth. Each pack is handmade in Colorado.

Paul J. Smith, Director Emeritus, Museum of Arts and Design, with his wood turnings and sculpture, 1958. Photos courtesy Paul J. Smith. Read the interview.

The brand’s most successful product is its Klettersack—“kletter” means “climbing” in German. The bag is made from 1000d Cordura, a textile that retains its color and is abrasion resistant. The Klettersack features leather lash tabs, which can attach a sleeping pad, jacket, or other gear with accessory straps. Although lash tabs are often found on backpacks as an aesthetic detail, Topo prides itself on only using tabs on products where it is functional component. The pack features heavy-duty number ten zippers for easy pulling, and a yellow pack liner that provides a second layer of protection and makes it easy to find items within the bag. This yellow liner is a feature in all of Topo’s bags.

Handmade in Colorado, the Klettersack Backpack is the perfect companion to weekend travel. The spacious pack can hold up to 22 liters, while the slim silhouette ensures that it is not overly bulky. The exterior of the pack includes leather lash tabs, making it easy to secure extra gear or attach a bike light for hikes and rides in the dark. The bag features a laptop sleeve, zippered top pocket, and side pockets for water bottles or extra gear.

From Colorado’s Topo Designs, the Backpack Tote is designed with utility in mind. Taking the silhouette of a classic tote, backpack straps were added to create two carrying options. The versatile Backpack Tote is a thoughtful gift for urban and mountain adventurers alike.

The Backpack Tote from Colorado–based Topo Designs is a multipurpose accessory that captures both an outdoor and urban spirit. The streamlined tote is designed with utility in mind, whether it is used running around town or on a day hike. Topo Designs took the silhouette of a classic tote, and added backpack straps so the user can benefit from a two-way carry system, depending on his or her preference.

The Lotus wallpaper pattern by Galbraith and Paul is produced in-studio with the help of a digital printer.

Parachute x Clare V. Travel Kit, $199 at parachutehome.com Crafted from cozy 100% Merino wool, this design is a collaboration betweeen Parachute and Los Angeles-based designer Clare Vivier. Vivier's signature bold colors grace a blanket and eye mask whose carrying case doubles as a pillow.

Although at its start Topo Designs was located in a Fort Collins, Colorado basement making one bag at a time, the brand began gaining significant traction in 2011, breaking into the outdoor industry with refreshed aesthetics. Part of Topo’s success is due to its innovation in a field that wasn’t changing much. By making its bags more accessible and less technical, the company was able to successfully create outdoor gear that overlaps into everyday life. More than a technical backpacking company, Topo Designs has positioned itself as a traveling brand, with products that work both in the city and outdoors, providing a versatile overlap with everyday life. In 2012, the company launched its line of apparel, creating a head-to-toe model for the Topo Designs customer.

To mark the 50th anniversary of Danish brand Stelton, British fashion designer Paul Smith updated designer Arne Jacobsen's 1967 stainless steel Cylinda Line Coffee Pot with colorful plastic handles.

London, England-Hailed as one of the world’s most important business, financial, and cultural centers, London contains four of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites (Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Greenwich, and Kew Gardens) within city limits. In addition, this major global city hosted the Great Exhibition in 1851 in one of the most ambitious and talked about architectural structures at the time, the Crystal Palace. Although that building was subsequently destroyed in a fire, London still boasts of the preservation of architectural rock stars such as the Banqueting House, Nelson’s Column, the British Museum, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the Gherkin. Photo by: Steve Wilson.

Perched on top of a hill, the house is accessed by a long staircase that runs up to the exterior courtyard. The dogs, naturally, take their own route.

Sir Paul Smith: Isle of Man, London 2012 Olympic Games Stamps designed by Paul Smith.

These striped pots were made for a Paul Smith clothing store in Brussels.

A pair of Molded Plywood lounge chairs by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller sit opposite a BoConcept coffee table and a sofa of Paul’s design. For his father’s book collection, Paul created a library around the double-height staircase.

tidy books steps

Godzilla, by Paul Octavious.

Courtesy Paul Tucker

Liz Galbraith and Ephraim Paul update the ancient art of woodblock printing in their studio in a 19th-century mill building in Philadelphia.

tidy books steps

British style icon Paul Smith photographed with a few of his favorite buildings in the new book, Paul Smith A to Z.

Architects Mayer Sattler-Smith designed the bookshelves and Alvar Aalto the 406 lounge chair for Artek.

Smith knew he wanted to use plywood for the interior walls. "Plywood can look fantastic,