Edgy Leather Travel Bags from The Transience

Feel (and customize) the function-focused, NYC-made accessories at their Bowery pop-up shop

For the most part, leather travel bags are pretty predictable; sticking to the tried-and-true formula of vegetable-tanned shades of brown in vintage-inspired shapes. If you’re looking for something less ho-hum and more in tune with a modern aesthetic, NYC’s The Transience offers some creative alternative options. The new brand’s leather bags and accessories—geared towards travelers—merge functionality, quality and unique designs that are eye-catching, yet subtle …

Off Piste: Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park

A 600-mile labyrinth of towering limestone in Madagascar's otherworldly forest

by Kelly Phillips Badal The amount of Jurassic-era limestone rising above the trees of western Madagascar’s Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park—hundreds of miles worth of jagged rock—gives the landscape the look of a formidable fortress. Lofty spires, twisted pinnacles and narrow ridges of razor-sharp stones reach up to 150 feet in the air, with deep crevices and caves interlaid within. The world’s largest stone forest …

Word of Mouth: Durban

Creative tips from the talented multidisciplinary artist Richard Hart on South Africa's historic port city

by Laura Feinstein 2014 is shaping up to be the year of South African design. From Cape Towns title as world design capital to a series of high profile public arts projects, the formerly embattled country has flourished under a recent wave of creativity. This is due partly to the hard work of organizations like Design Indaba, which highlights local talent and attracts international recognition, …