Land of the Rising Sun, Nihon, Nippon, Japon or what ever you like to call it, export more than just Playstations, Toyotas and Cameras. Unless you’ve been living in complete isolation, it’s no secret that this small island nation is at the forefront of Asian fashion. Brands like A Bathing Ape, Uniqlo, and Yohji Yamamoto are making their mark on the American fashion scene, and the market is ripe for more Japanese designed goods. Dedicated fans of Japanese couture continue to salivate over new collections from brands like Comme des Garçons and Visvim. Lines wrap around stores with most big releases and consumers don’t shy away from the outlandish amount of cash-money needed to buy them. And it’s not just the clothes that fans go gaga over, it’s the accessories, especially bags, that draw a significant amount of attention; notably high-end brands like Headporter.
master-piece (MSPC)
Price: $100-$600
(via master-piece)
Established in 2012, these fairly small accessory makers pride themselves on designing and manufacturing simple, stylish, unique and quality bags. masterpiece has a growing collection of bags ranging from casual totes to rugged rucksacks. Handmade near Osaka, Japan, every gear in their collection oozes quality.
North Face Purple Label
Price: $50-$200
(via nanamica)
While not quite Japanese, North Face Purple Label is a branch of North Face established in collaboration with a active lifestyle brand Nanamica. For this reason many of their collections are manufactured in limited quantities and often difficult to find outside of Japan (there is a small collection at Rakuten Global however). With an eye-catching twist on the original logo, many of their items are designed using unconventional patterns and colors; giving it unique look.
Hobo Bags
Price: $100-$400
(via Hobo)
Inspired by the Depression era wanderer, Hobo (not to be confused with the US bag maker Hobo International) is a Tokyo bag maker that provides a collection of practical, unique and stylish bags. Their collection ranges from totes to fannypacks and even wrist swag. Much like North Face Purple Label, it is rather difficult to buy outside of Japan without a proxy.
Bag ‘n’ Noun
Price: $5-$200
Bag ‘n’ Noun offers a large variety of wears from messenger bags to wallets. Many of the bags use earthy, springtone colors to be worn in all kinds of settings. While somewhat obscure, Bag ‘n’ Noun can actually be found outside of Japan (notably in European online shops); you just have to do some searching.
Arai Tent
Price: $100-$300
(via arai tent)
With about 40 years of manufacturing and design under their belt, Arai Tent is a seller of high-end camping equipment. Rugged and durable outdoor equipment is their bread and butter. The brand offers everything from hiking bags to boots; all designed with a minimalistic theme. Arai Tent also makes formal to casual totes, rucksacks and daypacks in the Persimmon collection.
