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Fun.  Eclectic.  Unique.  Affordable.  That’s Poketo.

Ted Vadakan and Angie Myung, the husband and wife team behind Poketo, started their little art business in 2003 in San Francisco. It began as a hobby curating shows for their fledgling artist friends.

Ted, a filmmaker, and Angie, a graphic designer, came up with the idea of creating limited edition wallets, pieces of portable art their attendees could purchase. The $20 wallets feature original artwork encased in durable vinyl sewn with pockets, or “poketos” as Angie’s grandmother calls them, and is packaged with an artist bio and matching pin.

Each design has a limited production of 200-300 wallets. Special edition wallets, such as those from collaborations with Parson, The New School of Design, and 826LA, a non-profit tutoring organization in Echo Park, enjoy a super-exclusive run of 50-100 wallets. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.

The artist wallets quickly became a sell-out hit, and the Poketo business was born. Soon, artists from Europe, Asia and South America were contacting Ted and Angie to submit their artwork for wallet-hood.

Poketo has featured designs from over 100 international artists and has a sister site Poketo Japan which features their own line of merchandise and artists.

In 2004, Ted and Angie relocated to Echo Park and worked full time on Poketo from home.  When the business grew they moved Poketo to an Arts District studio on Hewitt Street where all the design, planning and merchandising takes place. Poketo Studio is the site of the annual warehouse sale and occasionally hosts art shows and visiting artists.

Why did Ted and Angie choose Downtown as the new home for Poketo?

They love the vibe and energy of the area and believe in its potential, says Angie. They are thrilled to be in Los Angeles and embrace the various SoCal neighborhoods and lifestyle.

In fact, Ted and Angie tied the knot just last month on the rooftop of their Poketo Studio building with the reception catered by a taco truck “because what could be more LA than a taco truck”, says Angie. Touche, and congratulations!

Wallets are by far their best-sellers but Poketo products also include graphics-driven stationary, housewares, limited edition t-shirts, prints and accessories. You may have seen Poketo wallets and t-shirts at the MOCA Museum Store or Flock Shop in Chinatown. Poketo merchandise can also be found at the Hammer Museum in Westwood and Giant Robot on Sawtelle.

Poketo introduces new designs twice a year in the spring and fall. Aside from the $5-$10 warehouse sale you can also find discounted items on the Poketo website year-round. A Poketo Holiday Sale is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, December 6. Details to be announced.

For those of you interested in getting involved in the design world, Poketo offers three-month internships to hardworking and highly motivated individuals. Poketo currently has a design (studio) internship and marketing/PR internship available. These positions may be paid or unpaid depending on the level of experience involved. Please contact Poketo through their website for more information.

Poketo’s current collaboration takes them to the Land Down Under. On November 7, Ted and Angie travel to Australia to launch their newest series of Poketo wallets designed by 15 Aussie artists. They will be blogging throughout the trip so you can take a virtual vacation with them south of the equator.

Photos via Poketo on flickr.

Poketo Studio
510 S. Hewitt Street #506
Los Angeles, CA 90013