Portable Design With Poketo A startup founded by two artists puts art in people's pockets (and on their backs).
By Carolyn Horwitz •
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There are times when art and commerce collide in a felicitous way. In the case of Poketo, that collision was quite literal: The company got its start selling wallets emblazoned with designs by emerging artists.
Poketo has been bringing affordable, art-minded products to the masses since 2003. That year, founders Ted Vadakan and Angie Myung invited six artist friends to design vinyl wallets to sell at a gallery show, to great success. The married couple decided to do another wallet series, then branched out to artist-designed stationery, housewares and T-shirts. They now sell their products at Poketo.com, the MoMA Store, Anthropologie, CB2 and Urban Outfitters.
Their philosophy, Vadakan says, is "art for everyday: bringing art into your everyday life, things you can wear and use."
