Owen & Fred: Define Your Lifestyle with a Great Bag

By Marla Milling Published July 19, 2016

The founder of Owen & Fred says his company’s products are so hot these days that men want them from the moment they wake in the morning to the time they go to bed. While the company offers more than 150 products, Mike Arnot specifically talks about their line of bags that guys use for commuting to work, going to the gym, or heading out on a weekend getaway.

Related: 5 Weekender Bags for your Next Getaway

Recommended Videos

“We have a great waxed canvas weekender,” said Arnot. “It’s well-sized. You could probably fit three soccer balls in it and a good number of clothes. We also have what I think are great-priced duffel bags. They’re $115 and you can’t beat that for a duffel you can use for the gym and a weekend getaway. We sell a lot of duffels.”

Arnot launched the company in 2012, but at the time he wasn’t focused on bags. He was looking for a better wallet.

“I wanted to buy a wallet that wasn’t too frilly or made with crappy leather,” he said. “You find a lot of that on the market. I thought we could design something and have it made here.”

He put that vision into action and Owen & Fred was born. All of their products are high quality, affordable and made in the U.S. In 2014, they launched into retail stores and now have 450 accounts worldwide including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and J.Crew. Bloomingdale’s and Restoration Hardware are set to start selling Owen & Fred products this fall.

owen & fred, storefront Plus, Arnot is getting ready to unveil the first retail store in the historic NoLIta neighborhood in New York City. The store at 230 Mulberry Street is the first retail concept for Owen & Fred, with plans to launch similar stores in other domestic markets in 2017. The store design showcases the brand’s travel accessories and weekend bags, and features floor-to- ceiling looping videos shot from the flight deck of commercial aircraft.

Owen & Fred is releasing two to three new products a month. In August, they will unveil a new grooming line called “You Dirty Dog.” We’ll be on the lookout for that.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Marla Hardee Milling is a full-time freelance writer living in a place often called the Paris of the South, Sante Fe of the…

Fashion & Style

Ming unveils 29.01 midnight worldtimer in limited 25-piece edition

The batman to bruce wayne: ming's dark worldtimer gets the midnight treatment

Ming 29.01 midnight worldtimer

Ming has presented a darker version of its well-received worldtimer. The new 29.01 Midnight is a timepiece with a black DLC-coated titanium case. Production is limited to 25 pieces, and its price is CHF 22,000.
After the successful 29.01 worldtimer, this variant adopts the color combination first seen on the brand's 37.09 Uni model. The Midnight edition keeps the original's functions but adds a nocturnal look. The brand describes it as suitable for secret night missions or private assignations.
The 40mm grade 5 titanium case features a deep sapphire box crystal, which serves as both the front crystal and bezel, seamlessly connecting to the case body. This construction gives the appearance of having no bezel at all. The watch is water-resistant to 50m. It also features "flying blade" lugs, which allow it to sit comfortably on a variety of wrist sizes.
Ming’s dial design uses several layers to create a sense of depth. A rotating metal 24-hour disc works with static city names, which are printed on two levels of the sapphire dial. Cities include New York, Rio, London, and Pago Pago.
The watch is easy to read at night. Every feature on the sapphire components and hands is coated with ceramic Super-LumiNova X1. The orange numerals add a pop of color against the dark layout and glow orange in the dark.
A Schwarz-Etienne ASE 222 caliber powers the 29.01 Midnight. Ming has modified this movement, giving it a skeletonized barrel for monitoring winding. The bridges are coated in 5N rose gold and finished with diamond-cut anglage. It also features a redesigned tungsten microrotor. Ming Thein designed the bridge, matching the brand’s style.
The microrotor has a new, donut-like shape. It uses ceramic ball bearings and a modified mounting system for improved winding. A four-level staircase acts as the rotor guard, adding another visual element to the movement, which is visible through the domed sapphire caseback.
The timepiece comes with a black molded FKM rubber strap, attached to a DLC-coated flying blade buckle with micro-adjustment. Buyers also receive a strap of their choice.
Shipping of the Ming 29.01 Midnight will start in June 2025. The watches are available at ming.watch and through retail partners. Ming notes that only 25 pieces will be produced. Ming notes that "chances of spotting another one in the field are vanishingly small."

Fashion & Style

Omega brings back railmaster with improved properties

From railway to wrist: omega's anti-magnetic icon makes a gradient-dial comeback

Omega railmaster

Omega has brought back its Railmaster collection. The new models combine a design that evokes earlier times with up-to-date watchmaking technology. The latest versions feature color gradient dials. The clean, functional appearance that defined the Railmaster since its 1957 debut continues.
As part of Omega's "professional line," the Railmaster was first introduced alongside the Speedmaster and Seamaster 300. These three timepieces were created for specialists in different fields: the Speedmaster for racing drivers, the Seamaster for divers, and the Railmaster specifically for railway workers, engineers, and scientists-people who worked in environments with strong magnetic fields.
The original Railmaster stood out for its anti-magnetic capabilities. A specialized inner case provided protection against magnetic fields up to 1,000 gauss, far exceeding the typical 60 gauss resistance from competitors at the time. Because of this, it served as an important tool for professionals working around railways and industrial equipment.
The 2025 Railmaster revival continues this tradition while significantly improving anti-magnetic performance. The new models use Omega's co-axial Master Chronometer calibres (8806 and 8804 for the small seconds version), which can withstand magnetic fields up to 15,000 gauss-fifteen times more than the original models. These movements are certified by the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS), representing the industry's highest standard.
The revived collection includes two 38mm stainless steel models. One features a grey dial with a black gradient and a minimalist look. Only the Omega logo and Railmaster name appear on the clean dial. Large indexes and numerals in white Super-LumiNova ensure excellent readability.
The second variant offers a beige dial with a black gradient and a small seconds subdial at 6 o'clock, a feature that appeared on the 2004 Railmaster. Vintage-colored Super-LumiNova is used for its markers and numerals, giving it a retro character.
The watches are available with either leather straps (black for the grey dial, golden brown Novonappa for the beige dial) or stainless steel bracelets. The bracelets have redesigned links, improved integration with the case, and an easy comfort adjustment system.
In terms of appearance, the new Railmaster models align with Omega's Seamaster Aqua Terra collection. Since 2003, this design approach has connected the collections. The cases and bracelets combine polished and brushed surfaces, creating an interplay of finishes that catches the eye.
With this revival, Omega maintains the Railmaster's working-class heritage while enhancing its performance and appeal for today’s watch enthusiasts.

Fashion & Style

Piaget introduces obsidian-dialed polo perpetual calendar watches

Stone and steel: piaget crafts obsidian-dialed polo perpetual calendars

Piaget polo perpetual

Piaget added two new models to its Polo perpetual calendar collection. Both display natural obsidian stone dials in striking blue and green shades.
The latest models of the well-known Polo line, which began in 1979, continue the company’s tradition of combining ultra-thin mechanical expertise with special material craftsmanship. The volcanic stone dials give each watch a unique character, as the natural shine produced when mineral-heavy sulfides are trapped in fast-cooling lava ensures that no two watches are the same.
Both models come in 42mm stainless steel cases that showcase the Polo's signature shape-in-shape design-a round bezel set on a cushion-shaped case. The watches offer 30 meters of water resistance, despite their luxurious appearance.
Inside each watch is the ultra-thin caliber 1255P automatic movement, only 4mm thick, which provides full perpetual calendar functionality. The movement displays day, date, month, and moon phase. The moon phase is positioned at 6 o'clock and will remain accurate for over a century without adjustment.
The obsidian blue version has a more understated look, with its deep blue stone dial and a matching rubber strap. The case features both polished and satin-brushed surfaces for added visual contrast.
For extra distinction, the obsidian green model is limited to just 18 pieces. This version elevates the luxury factor, with a bezel set with 56 brilliant-cut emeralds surrounding the natural green obsidian dial.
These stone-dialed models follow Piaget's 2023 limited edition, which reportedly sold out quickly. This continues the company's focus on expanding its technical prowess while maintaining its unique design language, as seen in recent releases like the Polo Tourbillon Moonphase.
The price for the obsidian blue model is €108,000. The gem-set, limited-edition obsidian green model is priced at €149,000-placing these watches firmly in the high-end segment of the sport-luxury category, where Piaget continues to showcase its expertise and creativity with materials.

	
		OSZAR »