Banshu-woven tote bag brimming with craftsmanship

Souzu Craft is a bag manufacturer established in 2012 by Goto Soratsu. “I used to work as a businessman in the automobile industry, but I began making bags as a hobby, and then it became my job. Though I worked in design in the past, I find manufacturing is a good match for me,” says Souzu. The first item he created was wheel of life, a street-style handbag for carrying skateboards and trucks. The unique exterior, with its diagonal sense of movement, made it distinct from other conventional bags, and the piece became popular among people of all ages when it went on sale. “Because we handle everything from material procurement, plywood molding, and sewing of the bags, things can get difficult due to all the time it takes,” says Souzu. It was right about that time that he discovered banshu weaving.

“I found out about banshu weaving while thinking about how I wanted to make something besides bags using materials from my home of Hyogo prefecture. I fell in love with the soft weave and the modern Japanese feel.” The lightweight, easy-to-carry tote bag is made with banshu-woven fabric on the outside, while highly durable Cordura® fabric is used for the inside, main body, and strap area.　“We have the bag in souvenir shops nearby the Arima Onsen hot springs, and it’s nice to hear directly from the customers. I make each one by hand, and can reflect on the pocket location and strap length, repeatedly adjusting with minor changes,” says Souzu. Moving forward, the company hopes to expand with accessories such as pouches and coin purses using the banshu weave, and is working on various designs. With their originality and ingenuity, the new designs being created by Souzu are deserving of recognition.