Lucky in 2010

Every New Year, retailers in Japan participate in a tradition knows as fukubukuro, where “lucky bags” are filled with secret items and sold at an attractive discount. This New Year, Incase is proud to support Apple in this very cool tradition by providing a special edition Compact Backpack as the official Apple Lucky Bag, which will secure all the coveted (and secret) Apple and Apple specific merchandise.

Sold exclusively in limited quantities at all Apple Store locations in Japan, each $350 Lucky Bag contains items with a total value of more than double the cost of the bag. Additionally, a few extra special Lucky Bags include a voucher for a new MacBook—a very lucky deal for those fortunate enough to get their hands on one.

ラッキーな２０１０年。

アップルストアでは毎年恒例でLucky Bag（福袋 35,000円 税込み）が正月期間中に用意されます。お客様に大変人気のあるこの福袋、今回はIncaseが”袋”としてオリジナルデザインのコンパクトバックパックを用意させていただきました。袋を開けるとお値段の倍以上の価値があるアップル、及びアップル関連のアクセサリー商品が盛りだくさん！中には新しいMacBookがあたる懸賞が含まれている袋も！ぜひ新年の運試しにどうぞ。

Brother Reade vs. the Incase Backpack

Triumph Over Tragedy, Take One

For those of you familiar with the goincase blog’s music coverage, you’ll no doubt recognize the name Brother Reade, Los Angeles by way of North Carolina’s hardest working rapper/dj duo. While on tour this summer DJ Bobby Evans ran over his Incase backpack with the tour van. Prior to this the pack had looked rather nice, we’d just given it to him in Portland during MFNW. But more importantly, the pack had Evan’s MacBook Pro in it. You know— the computer with all the songs, beats, contacts, and contracts for their tour. Woof. Incredibly, Brother Reade’s Jams F. Kennedy claims this story has a happy ending. Read on:

On our recent tour with Girl Talk, we were lucky enough to have a short run of exhilarating shows that were all packed with wild and receptive crowds. We went through the Northwest, where each different city is beautiful and lush, and has its own distinct flavor. We felt on top of the world, able to treat ourselves to regional food and drink that we only hear about in legends down in Los Angeles, and we were extremely pumped for the crisp weather and copious amounts of roadside thrift shops teeming with secondhand wool. Our days were filled with excellent meals and good weather, and our nights were full of febrile dance parties. Everything was perfect. Except that time we ran over DJ Bobby Evans’ laptop with the tour vehicle.

A little back story: Bobby Evans is the DJ/Producer for Brother Reade. I should also mention that for one reason or another, he’d had the same record bag for far too long. So you can imagine, that when Incase contacted us and wanted to furnish us with some pieces of theirs he was elated and couldn’t wait to use their products to organize his road gear and dispense with the (let’s be honest, somewhat tattered) bags he had been using to date. We picked up the Incase shipment at our show at MusicFest Northwest (MFNW) and were truly psyched to get it (very infrequently do the right pairings happen in the world of artist gifting/sponsorship, but those guys over there seem to be on to something).

Now, after MFNW our next show was at the Showbox SoDo in Seattle, where Mr. Evans finally got around to switching out his gear into the new bags. We somewhat ceremoniously trashed the old bags, packed up the rest of our things, and pulled out of the parking lot. And we heard a dragging sound. Everyone’s first thought in the car was that we were dragging the old bags. The old bags had been left outside, not thrown in the dumpster, and were being dragged by the car. We all believed this. So we pulled further out of the parking lot, when it hit us. Oh snap. We’re driving with one of the NEW bags under the tire of the car. The one with the laptop in it. The laptop with all the songs for our set, that we can’t play without. In the middle, not the end of the tour. Uh oh.

So we did the obvious thing, stopping the car, retrieving the laptop, assessing the damage, and something like a small miracle happened. I can’t stretch the truth to say that the laptop or the bag weren’t at all damaged, but I can say that they weren’t damaged beyond repair, and we were able to link the laptop to another computer and retrieve all of the songs we needed to off of it. AND after minor repairs the computer is fine, still in working order, due in no small part to the design of the bookbag, which we can now firmly endorse and attest to, in a true and completely sincere way, devoid of any of the usual cheesiness/self interest that normally lurks behind such sentiments. Now if you come see Brother Reade play a show, it’s likely you’re watching Bobby Evans DJ off of a laptop that HAS BEEN RUN OVER BY A CAR AND STILL WORKS. You might also see him carrying it around in a bookbag with roadrash and the tags still on it. We got lucky, don’t try this at home.

Love,

Jimmy Jams of Brother Reade

Spotlight: Paul Rodriguez Signature Collection Fall 09 Skate Pack

Introducing the Fall 09 Skate Pack, the newest addition to the Paul Rodriguez Signature Collection, designed and constructed with the essentials in mind. The Skate Pack helps you take what you need where you need it by merging skateboard-specific design with the best in notebook protection and functional storage.

Constructed of durable, weather resistant nylon, the Skate Pack features a padded back panel and shoulder straps with breathable mesh and integrated airflow channels for ergonomic support and comfort. The exterior skateboard attachment allows for easy deck-loading, with Velcro straps and compression bumpers to secure your skateboard.

On the inside, the Skate Pack is lined in a custom screen-printed allover P-Rod multi-dot design and includes a reinforced notebook compartment and an extensive array of pockets allow for maximum organization.

And we can’t forget the collection’s namesake in all this. Paul has been busy this summer traveling, competing and winning. His recent performance on home court at Summer X Games 2009 in Los Angeles earned him the gold in Street. (Congratulations, Paul!)

We had the chance to document Paul on the road, traveling to the Boston stop of the Dew Tour. Check out the video (Filmed by Felipe Lima) to get an inside look at a day in the life of P-Rod.

Fresh for Spring: Muted Cyan and Red

Brighten up your look this season with a host of protective solutions in two new colors: Muted Cyan and Red. From Nylon Messenger Bags and Backpacks to Protective Covers for iPhone 3G and Neoprene Sleeves for MacBooks, we’ve got you covered.

See more products in Muted Cyan and Red in our online store, better boutiques and the Apple Store.

Nylon Backpack in Gray

New in stock, the Nylon Backpack in Gray. Designed with a reinforced notebook compartment, plush faux-fur lining and padded ergonomic shoulder straps, the Nylon Backpack offers the ultimate in protection and comfort.

Features

• Reinforced notebook protection with plush faux-fur interior lining
• Custom weather resistant nylon construction
• Custom topographic print lining
• Two primary exterior zipper compartments for ample storage
• Exterior horizontal zipper pocket revealing three internal well pockets
• Large exterior vertical zipper pocket behind mesh back panel
• Interior zipper pocket with topographic print lining
• more features…

HIGHMATH

I finally received the latest Arkitip issue today. No. 0044 HIGHMATH. This time around, the magazine handed over all design responsibilities to Wood Wood, a Danish design collective. “Produced on the occasion of exhibition,” the issue also served as a working catalog for the self titled show being held in Berlin featuring an incredible group of creatives.

I’ve always been impressed with Arkitip’s ability to create a refreshingly new experience with each of their issues. For issue 0044, each magazine is packaged in a custom box commemorating the show in Berlin along with a 3D viewer and 3 image reels containing work from the exhibition.

Also featured in this issue is my latest ad showcasing our Nylon Backpack.

Be sure to check out more pics from the event in Berlin on the Arkitip Intelligence blog. Stay tuned…

Slim Backpack and Vertical Sling Deluxe

Designed with a reinforced notebook compartment, plush faux-fur lining and padded ergonomic shoulder straps, the Nylon Slim Backpack provides streamlined storage volume, durable protection and ample comfort.

Refined with leather detailing, the Canvas Vertical Sling Deluxe, offers complete protection for your MacBook or MacBook Pro while providing ample storage for your documents and accessories.

Nylon Backpack and Sling Pack in Stock

We ran out of stock for a bit and we’re really sorry, but we now have more of these in-demand items so come get’em while they’re hot!

The Nylon Backpack is the ultimate in protection and comfort.

The Sling Pack is the slimmed down alternative to a backpack.

Some Early Rip-Stop Backpack Reviews

“Perfect for students and those of us with non-conventional jobs that force us to be on the move continuously.”

“It reinvents stylish performance.”

“I am stunned at the amount of pockets on this relatively medium sized pack. There are pockets, pockets, and then secret pockets.”

That’s what some of the reviewers wrote that got the Incase Rip-Stop Backpack in the Apple Online Store.

Rip-Stop Backpack Available Now

You can now order our new Incase Rip-Stop Backpack at the Apple Online Store. It offers protection, storage and organization for notebooks up to 17-inch, the Rip-Stop backpack also provides room for almost anything else you might need to bring along.