In the 3 years we’ve known the brand db clay, the original makers of wallets made out of duct-tape, the Portland-based group has transformed the wallet industry into recognizing that one’s billfold can be a key accessory towards defining personal style. In our first interview with the brand designer Garett Croft Stenson, he told us the story of how he loved his wallets and instead of getting new ones, would simply duct-tape the cracks, tears, etc. until he ended up creating wallets from duct tape (called Ductbills). Friends took notice and soon everyone wanted an original Ductbill wallet, so Garett started innovating with new materials and artistic techniques.

Now, in its 3rd season, they’ve created the Version 3 collection with a patent-pending process that allows conceptual artwork and photos to be transferred onto an environmentally engineered textile called Tope. Tope is not only functional and cool, but durable (no duct-tape ever required), and is heat and water resistant. The Version 3 collection includes a variety of original artwork and images ranging from deer, horses, water towers, trees, hair, fields of wheat, feathers, and various abstract patterns, stripes, and colorways.

db clay, which showcased at Project in New York last month and again at Pool in Vegas, featured their “Pocket Art Gallery” of the Version 3 collection to rave reviews. Some top stores have picked up the brand for the Holiday season, including Bergdorf Goodman, Fred Segal, and Nordstrom’s, various museum shops and select boutiques, plus Flight 1—a top-end luggage store chain. However, perhaps the best way to get a one-of-a-kind db clay wallet is to go online at www.dbclay.com.

Up next for the brand is a rumored women’s wallet/purse collection to premiere with their next collection in February ’08.