Keep it long, treasure it long.

Incorporating hope into a handbag

This bamboo-woven handbag makes choosing what to bring with you every day fun. As you can imagine from the moderately transparent weave, this handbag is woven with bamboo and washi paper threads and has a smooth and light texture. These simple handbags, carefully hand-woven one by one by women living in Iwate, give off a sense of warmth that is somehow comforting.

Multifunctional natural material

This bamboo-woven handbag is woven from washi paper that has been mixed with kumazasa bamboo. Kumazasa bamboo is a plant with such strong vitality that it can survive even in the snow without withering. The ones grown in high-altitude mountains are particularly high quality and are used as ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine. It is also a multifunctional material with antibacterial and deodorizing effects, and its smooth feel and rustic texture are attractive.

We offer two types of bamboo-woven handbags: tote and drawstring. The drawstring type is finely woven, making it durable and difficult to see what's inside. You can use it just for going out, or as a pouch. The tote bag allows you to see what's inside because of the weave pattern, and the material properties make it ideal for hanging on a hook in the kitchen to store vegetables and miscellaneous items, or in spring and summer, you'll want to carry colorful handkerchiefs and your favorite items inside. The bottom of the bag has a fine weave, so you don't have to worry about small items like keys falling out. It has a soft, light texture, so it's recommended to wear it with a yukata or kimono in spring and summer, or to carry small items in an inner bag in autumn and winter. If you want to put an A4-sized notebook or carry a lot of luggage, choose the large size, or if you want to carry a minimalist wallet or smartphone, choose the small size. These handbags, carefully woven one by one in Tohoku, are perfect as heartfelt gifts. Knitting the Hope of Tohoku

The Sasa-ami Handbag is a basket bag made by Tohoku Crochet, which is based in the naturally rich city of Tono, Iwate Prefecture. Among the Tohoku region, Iwate Prefecture is an area rich in agricultural resources, with vast farmland and a changing climate. In traditional farming households, there are many handmade tools that have been used for a long time and you can see many baskets made from natural materials. Many households knit to get through the cold winter, and many women who live in the area seem to be naturally good at knitting.
Tohoku Crochet began just after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. It was triggered by a knitting class held at a gathering of women living in eastern Iwate Prefecture. The gathering eventually became everyone's hope for life, and knitting became a source of comfort for them. As they gathered together, their skills improved to the point where they were called professional knitters, and Tohoku Crochet was born to spread that skill. We aim to connect domestic demand for knitting with knitters and to deliver the vitality of Tohoku to the world by producing and selling Tohoku Crochet Made knit products.

Learn about tools that are rooted in daily life

Even if they have the same purpose, they come in different materials, shapes and weaves. Unlike expensive traditional crafts, basket products from all over Japan and the world give a glimpse into the characteristics of the region, the rooted lifestyle, and even the personalities of the people. They have a warmth that is not found in the perfect plastic and stainless steel products made by modern automation, and each one retains the individuality of the material and traces of handwork, making it seem like a one-of-a-kind item. Since it is a natural material that requires a lot of effort to collect, we hope that you will understand that small cracks, tears, and twists in the finished product do not affect its use as a tool, but that you will appreciate the handwork and understand that it is handmade.

Miyagi bamboo crafts, which are said to have started in the Edo period as a side job for samurai families, have been made from local bamboo that grows wild to create tools for daily life and for business use, but there are now only a few craftsmen left, making this a precious craft. It would be great if this opportunity to learn about the joy of continued use, which plastic products do not have, and about the craftsmen and the environment would be a delight for those involved.