Hint Magazine

[BAGGY PORT], the leather products with attractive color. We were there to witness its making process entirety!

[BAGGY PORT], the leather products with attractive color. We were there to witness its making process entirety!

Bags / Wallets
26-10-2018

We have recently started a collaboration last year with the popular leather accessory brand, "BAGGY PORT". Having heard that they will launch new color line-up this year, we went behind the scenes to bear witness to the leather-making process of their product. The artisans are all tried-and-true consummate professionals, loving the leather, and putting so much effort and care into the dyeing process. Here it is, we reported straight from the site!

To Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture! The center of domestic manufactured leather!

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This is Himeji-made leather that boasts Japan!

Though Tochigi and Himeji are both famous for domestically manufactured leather, Himeji, due to its abundant river water for tanning and warm climate for drying, not to mention its region for cattle livestock, has long established itself as the flourished prime area for leather industry from long ago. These collaboration products with BAGGY PORT too, began their life here in Himeji. Himeji leather, with its soft and easy-to-dye characteristics, highlights just how these exquisite and beautiful leather items can be created!

It all began with indigo. Leather products by HANDS x BAGGY PORT

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HANDS has long searched for the perfect dye, and we found it in Himeji.

Looking back, our HANDS x BAGGY PORT Rep, Mr. Yabushita recounts their beginning of the product development.

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"Although we have always thought of providing our very own original indigo-dye products, we just simply could not find our ideal color. But that all changed when we met BAGGY PORT. When dyeing leather, it is especially crucial to pay close attention to the time and temperature, not to mention having the required skills to perform such a process. But when I saw the products by BAGGY PORT, there was no question regarding their skills, and the coloration was perfect."

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During the dyeing process, many color variations appear.

This indigo-dyeing process to leather are provided by the Aitan Co., Ltd. Truth be told, in order to provide the perfect indigo dye to all leather accessories under the HANDS x BAGGY PORT banner, each items must be the soaked and dried into the same concentrated dye color repeatedly for at least 8 times, sometimes as much as 20! Not to mention, if soaked too much during the indigo-dyeing process, it has the tendency to damage the leather, making it a painstakingly hard process to maintain. But here at Aitan Co., Ltd, they have solved this issue through 5 years of refining their dyeing process. By suppressing de-coloration and color-migration, they have successfully brought out the natural richness and uniqueness of the indigo-color. And this skillset is also utilized in our HANDS Products!

Each and every piece are handmade. Persimmon tannin colors, born from utilizing the 5 senses of the artisans

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A large, drum-shaped machine, larger than the artisans. When lined up, they make up for a spectacular sight!

One of the new colors, the Persimmon Tannin color, is handled by Kawaguchi Tannery (Kawaguchi Seikaku-Jo). Here, we are greeted by an enormous drum-type machinery, also known as "the Taiko". Inside this machine, alongside the dyeing process the permeation process of the tanning solution occurs.

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Here are the actual Persimmon Tannin dye-colors.

After the basic dyeing process is complete, then the dyeing process for the Persimmon Tannin begins. Originally, the Persimmon Tannin had been used in wooden architecture for use in preventing wood corrosion. This time, the color was utilized as being the most suitable color for our HANDS project. On a side note, the Persimmon Tannin is a highly expensive dye. That is why in order to perfectly and efficiently complete the finish, the skill sets and the experience by the artisans is absolutely imperative.

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The artisans, using their long years of experience, dye each leather piece by piece carefully.

All coatings using the Persimmon Tannin extract are done by hand. Coating by hand, the finish has a natural texture and colored quality. Mr. Ryosuke Kawaguchi, 50 years experienced as an artisan and representative at Kawaguchi Tannery, remarked that "In the end, what differentiates between how good or bad a product is, comes down to the experience and the sensibility of the artisan himself. It might take time, but the end result is well worth it" he adds. These products are the fruits of labor from continuously coating until the perfect color comes through. This is a commitment as the pride of leather production land!!

Akane, an all-new color scheme made from comparisons to sunset color.

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The akane root, raw materials for the dye color. This is where the beautiful akane-colors are drawn from.

Though we call the colors of sunset as akane, this new color scheme draws even more attention due to its ingredients. As like the indigo and Persimmon Tannin dye-colors, the naturally grown akane roots are the ingredients.

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The akane roots are boiled in water inside a large pot. Only long years of experience and feel are used to perfect the blending ratio.

This akane colored dye is extremely time-consuming to prepare, as it must be boiled in large batches from ingredients that had been dried the previous day. The batches are so large, that after this process, the back of a small truck will be filled with the boiled akane scraps!

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Before adding dye. On a side note, even this white leather is prepared by our proprietary method called "Shiro-Nameshi".

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After adding the akane-dye...

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It slowly becomes colored as seen here.

Of course, the dyeing process is repeated many times, all the while actually comparing its colors against the sunset. Passion and effort indeed. These incredible dye colorings are a monument to the hard work and many hours put into by the artisans!

Complete! Our HANDS-Original Leather Products born from passion and hard work

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New colors include red, caramel and black. There are a wide assortment of variations to these products.

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The Indigo-dye Products. Exactly the Perfect Color we've been searching all these years!

Here we have the newest products lineup, made from quality leathers. Each and every one of them are beautifully colored and finished! We especially took extra care in using natural materials for the new colors. Long and continued use of this product will add more natural depth and richness to the materials. We have here products that you can enjoy using and take care of for a long time!

BAGGY PORT x TOKYU HANDS
Long Wallet: 15,900 yen + tax
Folding Wallet: 13,900 yen + tax
Business Card Case: 8,900 yen + tax
Coin Purse: 8,900 yen + tax
Key Case: 8,900 yen + tax

At the End

Throughout our interview, it was incredibly noteworthy the amount of care and time the artisans put into preparing the leather materials. These products are truly a labor of love by not just us HANDS, but many people. Please come and hold these products first-hand.

* Items introduced in this article may not be available in some stores. Please contact stores for information regarding the stock.
* The featured product may need to be specially ordered at the store.
* Please note that prices and specifications are subject to change and that availability is limited.
* Photos may include items for display purposes.

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