Ringo Gamaguchi Funcție Principală: Portofel cu Închidere by Yutaro Kumagai

Ringo Gamaguchi Funcție Principală: Portofel cu Închidere by Yutaro Kumagai is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award de Bronz in Accesoriu Competition Category.

BronzAccesoriu· 2026

Ringo Gamaguchi Funcție Principală: Portofel cu Închidere

by Yutaro Kumagai

Client: Appcycle

A' Design Award de Bronz Winner in Accesoriu Category

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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Ringo Gamaguchi Funcție Principală: Portofel cu Închidere

Text de Carte: Acest produs ia forma unui măr deoarece este realizat din Ringo Tex, o piele sintetică derivată din deșeurile de mere. Dimensiunile sale se bazează pe mărimea unui măr mic real, subliniindu-i originea. Caracteristica sa principală este subțirimea, neîntâlnită de obicei la portofelele cu închidere. Acest lucru a fost realizat prin adoptarea unei abordări de cusut diferite de portofelele convenționale, permițând structurii să rămână subțire. Intenția a fost de a crea un produs care să încapă cu ușurință în genți sau buzunare, permițând transportul elegant al monedelor și al altor obiecte mici fără a adăuga prea mult volum.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award de Bronz

Ringo Gamaguchi Funcție Principală: Portofel cu Închidere a câștigat A' Design Award de Bronz, o recunoaștere extrem de prestigioasă acordată designurilor remarcabile care se disting prin creativitate, ingeniozitate și istețime. Câștigătorii Bronzului sunt artefacte din plin pricepute și izbitor de creative, care atestă experiența vastă, imaginația și resursele designerilor lor. Se așteaptă ca Ringo Gamaguchi Funcție Principală: Portofel cu Închidere să fie un obiect foarte apreciat, admirat și prețuit, remarcabil de profesionist și inovator. Acest design câștigător al A' Design Award de Bronz încorporează cele mai bune practici din artă, știință, design și tehnologie și este excelent prin atenția la detalii. Ringo Gamaguchi Funcție Principală: Portofel cu Închidere satisface splendid nevoile, atinge dorințele, vrăjește sentimentele și stârnește curiozitatea.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: This clasp purse utilizes "Ringo-Tex" a bio-based leather developed by appcycle Inc. in Aomori, Japan's largest apple producing region. Around 20,000 tons of apple residue is produced each year, much of it discarded or incinerated, contributing to CO2 emissions. "Ringo-Tex" upcycles this waste into synthetic leather through a low-carbon stabilization process. Molded into a 3D apple form expressing it's origin uniting symbolism and craftsmanship while inviting participation in a sustainable society.
Dimensions & Packaging: W 80 mm x D 19 mm x H 90 mm
Tags: Apple, Apples, Aomori, Japan, Nippon, Bio-leather, Synthetic leather, coin case, purse, clasp purse, kiss-lock, push-lock, accessory, sustainability, vegan leather, appcycle, upcycle, ethical, multifunctional bag, circulation
Production Technology: The product is built from four key materials, a clasp frame, "Ringo Tex" bio based leather, an electroformed nameplate, and lining. While the clasp is standard, molding "Ringo Tex" is far more demanding than working with genuine leather and required six months of research. Stitching along the complex contours demonstrates Japanese craftsmanship. The gold seed motif, mass-produced by molding, defines the brand’s elegant identity.
Design Challenge: The greatest challenge in developing this product was achieving the bumpy texture and stitching applied to complement it. While embossing genuine leather is relatively easy due to it’s elasticity, plant-based synthetic leather is difficult to shape and sew because it lacks these properties. After six months of collaboration with multiple companies and testing we succeeded in creating the texture using a proprietary welder process. It is the product’s most charming yet challenging feature.
Research: Ringo-Tex is created by processing apple residue into power and using it as a raw material, reducing petroleum-based inputs in manufacturing by 72 - 74%. This approach lowers the dependence on finite fossil resources and decreases environmental impact. It maintains the durability and water resistance comparable to existing synthetic leather, offering a upcycled next-generation bio-based material that balances sustainability with practical performance.
Inspiration: This product is the first release of "Golden Seed" a brand created to embody appcycle's philosophy of "circulation". With the concept of "sowing regenerative seeds and facing a golden future" it expresses Aomori's identity it's apples in a cute, friendly, and accessible way. With refined construction intricate and meticulous stitching reflect the depth of Japanese craftsmanship.
Project Duration: The Project was started in 2025 Aomori and was unveiled in Tokyo in January 2026 as the debut product of the Golden Seed brand. It was exhibited and sold at a one month pop up store held at BEAMS JAPAN from January 29th to February 25th of 2026. For the next phase the team plans to launch a crowdfunding campaign followed by expansion into online platforms and retail stores both in Japan and internationally.
Operation Flow: A clasp purse with a push lock to store and carry small items such as coins, AirTags and SD cards.
Patents: Currently in the process of submitting a application for a patent.
Team Members: CEO : Kei Fujimaki
Vice President : Shohei Hatakeyama
Designer : Yutaro Kumagai
Craftsman : Fumio Sudo
Photographer : Ryokan Abe