We are beyond excited to share the story behind the creation of the LOCHBY Sidekick—an innovative collaboration between LOCHBY and MAXLVLEDC. This partnership has been fueled by a shared vision: to inspire creativity in everyday life. Today, we’re here to take you behind the scenes of the design process, from ambitious beginnings to the refined simplicity that defines the Sidekick. Let’s dive in!

A Little About MAXLVLEDC

If you know anything about the world of EDC (Everyday Carry), then you’ve likely come across Dominic’s YouTube channel, MAXLVLEDC. Widely regarded as one of the best content creators in this space, Dominic captivates his audience with high-quality videos, ingenious problem-solving, and creative modding skills. Whether he’s tinkering with gadgets or optimizing gear setups, Dominic exemplifies the relentless spirit of innovation that resonates with the EDC community. To learn more about Dominic and his inspiring journey, check out this blog post.

With his expertise and LOCHBY’s commitment to promoting creativity, the collaboration was a natural fit. Together, we embarked on a mission to create something truly unique—our take on the ultimate wallet for creators.

Why a Wallet?

At LOCHBY, our mission revolves around one belief: creativity deserves the right tools. That’s why our tagline is simple but powerful: “Keep Creating.”

When brainstorming our next product, we saw an opportunity that many wallets on the market overlooked—a design that accommodates a full-size pen. As creators, thinkers, and dreamers ourselves, we know the importance of having easy access to a writing utensil. Whether you're jotting down random ideas, sketching out a plan, or putting pen to paper to capture a fleeting moment of inspiration, we wanted to fill that gap with a wallet that did more than hold cards and cash.

Enter the LOCHBY Sidekick: a functional, inspiring piece of everyday carry gear tailor-made for creators who want to stay ready to unleash their creativity anytime, anywhere.

This Is Not Your Typical Wallet

Let’s get one thing straight—the Sidekick is not just a wallet; it’s a companion for creators. It's designed for journalers, writers, and anyone who values utility and inspiration. Imagine a slim but mighty wallet that organizes your everyday essentials and holds your creative arsenal—a wallet that encourages you to dream and sketch as easily as you pay for coffee. That’s the Sidekick. 

The Design Journey: From Chaos to Clarity

Creating the Sidekick was a journey marked by big ideas, even bigger tests, and lots of collaboration. Here’s how it all unfolded:

The Over-The-Top Beginning

Every great invention starts with ambition, and for the Sidekick, we admit we went a bit overboard at first. The earliest prototypes were, let’s say, enthusiastically over-engineered. Picture a wallet with:

• Two zippers – Why stop at one?

• Elaborate exterior pockets – Because who doesn’t need a pocket for literally everything?

• Room for “everything plus the kitchen sink” – The ultimate multitasking wallet.

These early iterations were certainly functional, but... bulky. A wallet is meant to go unnoticed in your pocket—not double as a mini suitcase. Our ambitions were high, but practicality took a backseat. Even the interior design packed a punch, with features like:

A MOLLE Velcro panel – For attaching anything and everything. Pens?Flashlights? A coffee mug? Why not?!

Dual pen loops – After all, two pens are better than one, right?

Keep It Simple: A Game-Changing Revelation

Realizing we had overcomplicated things, we pressed pause and asked ourselves a critical question: How could this wallet be both simple and exceptional?

Sometimes, less truly is more. To create a slim, compact profile that fit neatly into pockets, we began removing excess features:

• Bye-bye, zippers! Once gone, the wallet instantly looked sleeker and had better functionality. Bonus: this freed up room for a full-size pen!

• So long, exterior pockets. Cutting out the clutter resulted in an elegantly minimal design.

• We even tested smaller versions that held just cards and cash, but they lacked the creativity-centric features we envisioned.

Fine-Tuning the Interior: Creativity Meets Function

Next, we tackled the interior layout. The challenge? Balancing functionality with simplicity. Should it be vertical? Horizontal? Something entirely new? Enter the hybrid design, which combined the benefits of both orientations. To ensure we got it right, we conducted an Instagram survey and asked for direct feedback via email. The response was clear: our community loved the hybrid design! It was versatile, practical, and perfect for both wallet and notebook purposes.

Other insights from the survey included:

• A full-size pen was non-negotiable for most respondents, making it easy to capture ideas on the go.
• Suggestions for closures, such as magnetic mechanisms or straps, came up, but most users preferred the clean simplicity of a wallet without unnecessary bulk. Besides, traditional wallets rarely use closures—it’s all about what works in real life!

The Challenge of Width

As the design evolved, the main challenge became finding the perfect width. Early tests revealed that the wallet wouldn’t close properly when fully loaded. So, through countless trials—adjusting widths between 20mm and 30mm—we dialed in a design that balanced utility and sleekness.

Material Matters

True to LOCHBY’s roots, the Sidekick is crafted from our signature water-resistant waxed canvas. This timeless material doesn’t just look great; it protects your valuables in every environment, from rainy commutes to rugged hikes. With its heritage vibe and rugged appeal, it’s built to last and designed for anyone who values function and form in their gear.

The Name: Chosen By You

We wanted the name of this wallet to reflect its mission: to be a trusty sidekick in your everyday creative adventures. Once again, we turned to our amazing community to help us choose. The finalists were:

1. The Voyager –Suggesting exploration and creativity, this name was proposed by Brian (@downthebreatherhole), Annie (@ahallmandc) and Myrabel.
2. The Sidekick – Evoking companionship and reliability, a perfect suggestion from Cassie (@dust_to_roses).
3. The Stowaway – Playful, compact, and always along for the ride, submitted by Jon (@streetbeatphoto).

The Final Product: Minimalist, Mighty, and Ready for Adventure

After countless revisions, surveys, and tests, the Sidekick is here: a compact design that holds cards, cash, and even a full-size pen—all while fitting snugly in your pocket. It’s the ultimate everyday companion for thinkers, dreamers, and creators.

A Note of Gratitude

We couldn’t have done this without your input, feedback, and enthusiasm. The Sidekick is shaped by you, for you—a true labor of love born from collaboration. We can't wait to see how it becomes part of your creative journey.

Here’s to keeping creativity alive, one Sidekick at a time. Thank you for reading, and as always: Keep Creating!