I Make Bags to Share the Joy of Working with Leather

When buying a leather bag,

"It's expensive, so I have to take good care of it."

I think many people feel that way.

Trying not to scratch it.

Trying not to get it dirty.

Trying to keep it as close to new as possible.

But I want people to enjoy leather bags in a more relaxed way.

Because leather is a material that becomes interesting precisely through use.

Leather changes as you use it

Freshly bought leather is, of course, beautiful.

It's firm, it's glossy, and nothing has been etched into it yet.

But from there, you use it every day.

You hold it in your hand.

You set it on a desk.

You put it in the car.

Sometimes you end up setting it on the floor.

Sometimes it gets caught in the rain.

As you use it like this, the leather gradually changes.

Leather that was stiff at first becomes softer,

its luster deepens,

only the places you touch often change color,

and before you know it, the way you use it is left right there in the leather.

That's what makes it fascinating.

A scratch is not a failure

When you use leather, it naturally gets scratched.

When it's brand new,

"Oh no, it got scratched..."

you might think.

I work with leather myself, so I understand that feeling very well.

But when you look at it a few years later,

you may find yourself thinking "I like it," scratches and all.

Because the time you've spent with that bag remains there.

Even if someone else has the same bag, their scratches won't be the same.

So, scratches included, it becomes something that is yours alone.

I think that's the most fascinating thing about leather.

The sense of "nurturing"

As you use leather goods,

you gradually come to understand

the sense of "nurturing" them.

Rather than owning a bag that is complete from the start,

you make it your own bag as you use it.

Caring for it is part of that.

When it seems a little dry, you give it some care.

When it starts to shine, it makes you happy.

Comparing it with old photos after a long while,

"It's changed this much"

you realize.

I believe the joy of owning leather includes all of that time.

I want people to know this joy

This is one of the reasons I make bags.

I want more people to know the joy of working with leather.

I don't simply want to sell "bags made of luxury leather."

After buying the bag,

"I wonder how this leather will change from here"

I want them to look forward to that.

A few years later,

"I like it more now than when I bought it"

I want them to feel that.

And when they look at that bag,

"I went through this and that with this bag"

I want them to remember.

That's the kind of bag I want to make.

That's why I'm particular about leather

I don't think just any leather will do.

I choose leathers whose character changes with use and that can build up time together with their owner.

Focusing mainly on leathers from French and Italian tanneries, I select them by touching, looking and checking them myself.

Even leathers of the same type differ from hide to hide.

Their character differs, and so does their firmness.

So I actually touch them, and make bags while thinking,

"With this leather, this shape works best,"

"With this leather, this kind of construction suits it."

That's how I make my bags.

A bag is completed by the person who uses it

It may seem that I finish a bag before handing it to the customer,

but in the true sense, I don't think I've finished it.

The one who finally completes it is the person who uses it.

Even with the same bag,

someone who uses it every day

and someone who uses it only on weekends

will end up with a completely different bag a few years later.

Some people care for it carefully,

and some use it a bit roughly.

A bag changes according to the life of its owner.

That's why I don't think

"one-of-a-kind bag" = a maker creating a one-off piece

is the only meaning.

As that person keeps using it,

it becomes a bag that is theirs alone.

I believe that, too, is one of a kind.

Good things are most interesting when used

I don't want people to just keep my bags on display.

Of course, I'm happy if they treasure them.

But I really want them to be used.

Every day is fine.

Using them hard is fine, too.

Use it, touch the leather,

"It feels softer than before somehow"

"It's started to gain a bit of shine"

I want you to feel that.

That's how leather becomes part of your life.

I believe that is the joy of owning leather goods.

Choosing a bag is choosing the time ahead

A bag is something you use for a long time.

So I think it's fine to take a little time deciding when you buy one.

Do you love its shape?

Do you love the leather?

Do you love how it feels to hold?

Can you see yourself using it for years to come?

And,

"I want to try nurturing this leather myself"

can you feel that way?

If you come across a bag that makes you feel that way, I'm sure it will be a bag you can keep for a long time.

I don't want to make bags that only bring joy at the moment of purchase

At the moment of purchase,

"I bought a great bag"

of course, I'm happy if people feel that way.

But I don't want it to end there.

A year later,

"This bag is really starting to look good"

I want you to think that.

Three years later,

"I might like it more than when I bought it"

I want you to think that.

Five years later,

"I've been using this all along"

I want you to notice that.

And after many years have passed,

looking at that bag,

"I'm glad I bought this"

if you can feel that way,

as a maker, nothing could make me happier.

Sharing the joy of working with leather with more people

The reason I make bags is simple.

It's because I love leather.

I love touching it,

I love making things with it,

I love using it,

and I love watching it change.

That's why I want more people to know this joy.

Leather isn't just a material.

It takes in the time of the person who uses it,

and little by little becomes something that belongs to that person alone.

I'd love for you to try handling such leather with your own hands.

And to nurture it into leather that is yours alone.

As a gateway to that, I make bags.

Through bags, to share with the world the joy and fun of working with leather, and the special experience of nurturing leather that is yours alone.

This is why I make bags.

leather works KATSUYUKI TANAKA
Founder / Artisan　Katsuyuki Tanaka