Creating simple, modern bags using dyed coloring

The beautiful canvas ougi bag looks just like piece of art at first glance. Based on the Japanese ougi fan, the modern design has a dynamic feel and a fresh color scheme, and resonates with a style and elegance that is the essence of Japanese beauty. With a workshop in Fushimi, Kyoto, Kosho has long been involved in the region’s traditional hand-dyed crafts, and company head Mitsuaki Ogawa talks about the background of their stylish, expressively Japanese, bag. “The bag was created after a customer expressed her interest in hand-dyed shop curtains and tapestries, stating her desire for dyed clothing and bags. We are confident in the colors created through our dyeing work. This led us to create this product, utilizing a that has a a combination of colors and special materials.”

Set against the background of Kyoto aesthetic sensibilities and traditional dyed fabric artisanship, this piece is a proposal for the next generation, with a modern playful design created using the unique appearance of hand-dye techniques. The company attended its first overseas trade fair in 2012 and was seen by many famous buyers. They received orders from the MoMA modern art museum in New York, and from buyers in Italy. “I want to show the appeals of Kyoto through these pieces. Using color and space, and designs made by hand from the heart. I hope to create more of these types of pieces moving forward,” says Mitsuaki, as he takes on the challenge of breaking into overseas markets.