The Material Review

Issue 108: The Domino's Rolex, Michigan's Lynchian Underbelly, Car Cup Holders, The Goodyear Blimp, Airport Rankings, American-Made Menswear and Q&A w/ Douglas Davidson.

Stories worth reading. Stop indexing the internet.

How Rolex's Unlikely Collab Watch With Domino's Pizza Became a Cult Classic

“The inside story of the most unusual (officially sanctioned) Rolex model ever made” [Esquire]

Up in Northern Michigan's Lynchian underbelly

[SCARY COOL SAD GOODBYE]

What Makes a Car Lovable? It’s Not the Tech, It’s the Cup Holders

“Frustration with the size, location, and design of cup holders in new cars is on the rise—and it holds enormous influence on whether we buy a ride or not.” [Wired]

Why the Goodyear Blimp Hasn’t Been Replaced by Drones

“At 100, the airship is still in demand.” [NYT]

The 50 best airports in America, ranked

“What makes an airport special? We analyzed what passengers love most for our own definitive ranking.” [WaPo]

Would You Pay More for American-Made Menswear? This Indie Designer Is Betting on It

“Manresa founder Mike McLachlan explains why his rising label went all-in on domestic manufacturing.” [GQ]

A shortlist of things we’ve got our eye on.

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwes

Nitty Gritty Worldwide 8oz Striped Jersey

LEJ Pat-a-Cake Pant

John & Ian Gallis Beaded Magazine Rack

Griego Basilio Merino Knit Sweatshirt

Douglas Davidson is a longtime designer and the founder of The Brown Buffalo and Canvasworker, where he draws on over two decades of experience to build purposeful gear and pass on the skills behind it. We caught up to talk about vintage sewing machines, sculptural utility, cherished heirlooms, and what it means to carry with intention.

What’s your philosophy behind The Brown Buffalo?

At The Brown Buffalo, we design with reverence for form, function, and the unseen forces that shape both. Every piece of gear we create is a response to real life tools for those who live with purpose and move through the world with intention. My own philosophy is born from years immersed in the global anatomy of production living in Asia, studying the cadence of factories, learning from master craftsmen and visionary designers alike. More than just bags, the brand stands for self-reliance, ​​creative autonomy, and honoring the human hands behind every stitch.

What’s a memorable recent purchase you’ve made?

I recently acquired a vintage industrial chainstitch machine from the 1960s, an object with both soul and utility. It runs with the resolve of a bygone era. There’s a kind of mechanical poetry in using a tool that predates automation, a reminder to slow down, to engage fully, and to respect the integrity of process.

What is something you’ve had your eye on?

A selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printer. Not for mass production but for precision prototyping and design exploration. There’s something compelling about merging centuries old design principles with next generation fabrication. SLS allows you to sculpt complexity with intention to prototype forms that feel both engineered and poetic. Less about speed and more about expression. To me, it represents a modern forge; a place where material, light, and vision converge to test the edge of what’s possible.

For someone looking to improve on their gear setup, what’s an overlooked item that makes the biggest difference day-to-day?

A structured valet tray, a perfectly worn leather pouch, a heavy-duty eyeglass case with tactile presence; these are sculptural utilities.

What’s one product (outside of your own) that’s been in your rotation for years and still holds up?

My mother’s marble ashtray. It’s solid, timeless, burnished by years of use. She kept it beside her sewing machine, and it became a kind of altar. It’s also where I first witnessed her sew. I no longer use it for cigarettes; today, it holds my sage. The ritual has shifted, but the object remains, an heirloom of purpose, weathered and luminous when polished. A symbol of how well made things carry memory.

Why does The Brown Buffalo run maker classes? What is it about these skills that makes them important to teach to others?

I started Canvasworker because I believe knowledge should be shared, not hoarded. After years of designing and manufacturing around the world, I realized that the most valuable lessons weren’t from school or books, they were learned on factory floors, from elders, mentors, and hands on mistakes. Canvasworker is my way of giving that back. It’s a space where people can learn to make things with their hands, understand the why behind design, and build confidence through craft. I wanted to create a community, part workshop, part studio, part school, where anyone curious about making bags, travel goods, or gear could show up and start. It’s about empowering the next generation of makers with skills.