Poketo

History

After curating many shows for their artist friends, Vadakan and Myung realized that art was not being purchased because it was too expensive to afford. Vadakan and Myung wanted to create an accessible and affordable piece of art for attendees to take home from shows, while also promoting the artwork of their friends. This is when they started creating their limited-edition artist wallets. The idea for this product was birthed out of the notion that carrying an artist wallet was like "having a traveling art show" with you at all times. In Craft Magazine, Vadakan describes all of the wallets as being made by hand. The images are printed in four-color on high quality paper. They are laminated, then stitched together using an industrial sewing machine. In 2006, Poketo launched an online store for customers in Japan.

Since then, Poketo has expanded to design and produce accessories, apparel, homeware and decor. Poketo products, particularly their wallets, have become collectible pieces for buyers because of their limited quantity and original art. Poketo has been commissioned to create exclusive products for museums around the world like San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and De Young Museum. Poketo has also collaborated with art organizations like Parsons The New School for Design, the Creative Growth Art Center, Top Drawer Art Center and 826LA. Various music bands and music organizations have also worked with Poketo to collaborate on promotional merchandise, including The Postal Service, Weezer, Arcade Fire, The Shins, Minus The Bear, Matisyahu, Coachella Music Festival and many others. Poketo has also been recognized in HOW magazine's website as one of the top website for designers in April 2009.

In August 2010, Poketo released a 52-piece line of accessories for Target, designed with the artwork of 21 international artists, including: Betsy Walton, Camilla Engman, Catalina Estrada, Cole Gerst, Dan Funderburgh, DGPH, Joe Rogers, Kate Bingaman-Burt, Katharina Leuzinger, Leah Chun, Leif Parsons, Lisa Congdon, MAKI, Marco Cibola, Melissa Contreras, Mike Perry, Niels Oeltien, Oksana Badrak, Peskimo, Pietari Posti, and Silvia Portella.

Accessibility

In reference to Poketo products, Myung uses the analogy of taking art from the gallery walls and incorporating it into one's daily life. Myung understood that acquiring art was often perceived as being only for the exclusive. By creating products that use original art but are still affordable and functional for daily use, Myung says that art itself can become more accessible and more personal.

Community

Poketo has also contributed to their local community. In 2008, Poketo began a project with 826LA to collaborate on a wallet design that would later be sold to raise funds for the organization. Writer James Ponsoldt held a workshop with 826LA, helping each student craft their own [short story]. The stories were later handed to ten Los Angeles artists commissioned by Poketo to interpret the students' stories with their artwork. The finished product displayed the students' stories on the inside cover of the wallet, with the artists' renderings of their stories on the outside cover. The wallets were sold in 826LA's storefront as well as Poketo's online store. The story of the wallets were later recognized in Dave Eggers' Once Upon A School foundation.

In January 2009, Poketo collaborated with Dublab to design a limited-edition wallet. The wallets were sold to raise funds for Dublab and to support the "growth of positive music, arts, and culture."

Poketo team up with individual designer (Jolby) to create series of wallet for famous cartoon "Adventure Time", Poketo also partnered with Parson.