MRKT’s Sleek Vegan Backpacks and Bags

Made from specially developed felt, animal-free suede microfiber and more

The name Mad Rabbit Kicking Tiger (MRKT for short) certainly stirs curiosity, but it’s the brand’s streamlined backpack, briefcase, weekender and bum-bag (or fanny-packs) silhouettes—and their use of unconventional materials—that distance it even further from the avalanche of options out there. It’s also unsurprising to learn that MRKT’s origins hail from the world of architecture—and that one of its co-founders is an accomplished international architect. …

Atmo Sfera Platterless Turntable Spins Vinyl in the Air

The record player of the future is here

Chicago’s Gramovox already defied gravity with their vertical Floating Record Player, and now Italian start-up Audio Deva offers their own “upside-down” take on a turntable. It eschews the basic design that has “remained the same for about a century.” The thinking goes, the heavier the platter and plinth, the more vibrations that can be absorbed and overall a more stable speed (Fern & Roby made …

Maria Usbeck: Moai Y Yo

Former lead singer for machine pop trio Selebrities, Maria Usbeck, sets out on her own for the first time. Her solo album Amparo (co-produced by Caroline Polachek) will come at the end of May, and the influences are quite personal. Brooklyn-based, Quito-born Usbeck sings “Moai Y Yo” in her native Spanish, backed by the gentle lapping of water, sparse percussion and the eventual layering of …