【Design】
This tote bag was developed over 16 years of extensive dialogue between designers Daisuke Iwanaga and Shinichiro Ogata. The project began with the idea to elevate the paper bags handed out at "OGATA Paris" into leather items with lasting value. This attempt to convert ephemeral consumables into permanent objects strongly reflects the brand’s "slow culture" values.
Based on the elegant, curved horizontal boat shape reminiscent of Japanese traditional "sasabune," its greatest feature is the transforming mechanism enabled by raising internal original washi paper parts to change into a vertical tote bag. These washi parts can be freely adjusted in height and folded flat as a base to maintain the beautiful boat shape. The handle bases bear the brand’s iconic patterned weaving, balancing design accents and reinforcement. The opening features a minimal design with built-in magnets. A removable bottom board allows the bag’s expression to change according to mood or purpose. Inside, two pockets ? one with a zipper and one with a flap ? provide practical storage.

【Form & Storage Capacity】
The base shape is a compact, elegant horizontal "boat shape" inspired by Japanese aesthetics. Expanding the internal washi parts transforms it into a practical vertical tote bag. In the vertical form, it comfortably fits A4-size documents vertically, iPads, A5 documents, and other small items, making it versatile from business to casual use. Using the included bottom board offers a stable, neat form, while removing it shows the leather's natural supple drape.

【Material Texture & Aging】
The outer main leather is "TEA HUSK LEATHER," produced from recycled Itoen tea leaves. It is tanned with tea husk-derived and plant tannins and finished using glove leather techniques, offering a refined, subtle sheen and a soft, luxurious feel.
The internal transforming parts are made from a unique, exceptionally thin and soft material created by coating pulp, the raw material of washi paper. These parts develop delicate, complex wrinkles over time, like crumpled washi, creating a unique trace for the owner. The bag’s new state is not the final form; daily wear produces scars and wrinkles accepted as enhancing its individuality. This perfectly expresses the Japanese aesthetic of "wabi-sabi," finding beauty in imperfection.