Studio HOSONO Tote Bag <Camel>

Studio HOSONO tote bag (camel). Approx. 30cm high x 35cm wide x 10cm deep, 240g, 100% cotton, made in Japan. *Opening: open, exterior: 1 hook-and-eye pocket. Size may vary slightly as this is a handmade item. Tokyo Canvas bags that have supported the exploits of famous Japanese adventurers. Taito Ward, with its downtown atmosphere, is where Studio HOSONO, the pioneer of canvas products in Japan, is located. Founded in 1912, the company began by manufacturing and selling rickshaw hoods and rickshaw drivers' raincoats. Time passed, and in 1936, the Rikkyo University Mountaineering Club set out on Japan's first overseas mountaineering expedition to Nanda Court in the Himalayas. The store was selected from among many canvas stores and was asked to manufacture tents, backpacks, and other items. How could they create a product that would protect the contents safely and be highly durable? After many meetings with the team members and trial and error, the second-generation owner, Hiroyoshi Hosono, treated the canvas with paraffin to make it water-resistant and stain-resistant. The metal fittings are made of sturdy brass that won't rust, and the shoulder straps and sole are made of water-resistant, oily cowhide leather. The base of the strap is hand-sewn with thick hemp thread to prevent it from coming undone, and efforts were made to make it as lightweight as possible.
The more you use it, the more you'll feel the quality of the canvas. Of course, everything from cutting to sewing is done by hand. In the workshop, the third-generation owner, Masaaki, was cutting the canvas with total concentration. I thought he was cutting by drawing lines with a ruler, but he didn't draw any lines at all, and instead skillfully used a ruler and a knife to cut in 1cm increments.
What particularly caught my eye was the "folding" process, where creases are added to the fabric. New canvas is stiff. Normally, one would imagine that some kind of tool would be used for this, but Masaaki used his thumb as if it were an "iron" and created the creases smoothly and without the slightest deviation. Once the cut pieces of canvas have been creased, they are sewn together with a sewing machine. In this workshop, one person handles the sewing of each product from start to finish. Masaaki explains, "When you do it on an assembly line like in a factory, different people often do each part. But people have their own "sewing habits," so if different people sew handles, zippers, etc., the dimensions will be off and the fabric will get wrinkled. Our motto is to put ourselves in the customer's shoes and make durable products that can be used for a long time. That's why the same person does the sewing."
We would like to introduce a simple tote bag. There is a small pocket with a hook on the outside where you can store small items such as keys. The canvas itself will soften over time and become more comfortable against your body.