Kumihimo Primary Function: Ato Maea Toso by Tsuchiya Kaban Co., Ltd. is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Platinamu in Mamanu Mea Fa'aopoopo Competition Category.
PlatinamuMea Fa'aopoopo· 2026
Kumihimo Primary Function: Ato Maea Toso
Client: Tsuchiya Kaban Co., Ltd.
A' Design Award Platinamu Winner in Mea Fa'aopoopo Category
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- Verified Award Winner
- Verify Award Status for #180948
The Design
About Kumihimo Primary Function: Ato Maea Toso
Book Text: O lenei ato e toe mafaufau i le Kumihimo, o se metotia fili masani Iapani mai le vaitaimi o Edo. E ala i le suia o le suʻisuʻi i maea fili malolosi, ua maua ai e le mamanu le malosi faʻafausia faʻapea ma le fetuʻunaʻi. O le foliga faigofie e faʻamaonia ai le tomai faʻapitoa, ae o le fausaga e faʻaalia ai le Musubi, o le filosofia Iapani o le fesoʻotaʻiga faaleagaga ma le faaletino. O lenei vaega e faʻatasi lelei le matagofie faʻasolopito i le olaga faʻaaisa i aso uma, faʻamanatuina ai le sootaga i le va o le mea ma lona ona.
The Recognition
About the A' Design Award Platinamu
O le A' Design Award Platinamu na manumalo ai Kumihimo Primary Function: Ato Maea Toso, o se faamaoniga matuā mamalu e tuuina atu i mamanu e moni lava ona ese, matagofie ma mataʻina. O ē manumalo i le Platinamu o mea ofoofogia o le faatufugaga, o molimau o tapulaʻa o le mafaufau fatufatuaʻi, ma e faaalia ai le tomai faapolofesa e le mafaatusalia ma le atamai o tagata mamanu. E faamoemoeina nei mamanu e avea ma galuega sili ona lauiloa e faamatalaina ai le matagofie o le vaitaimi, saunoa i le manuia o le sosaiete ma tuleia atu tapulaʻa o le faatufugaga, saienisi, mamanu ma tekonolosi. Kumihimo Primary Function: Ato Maea Toso e faaalia ai se tulaga maoaʻe o le lelei ma e leai se mea e fesiligia, e faia ai e le lalolagi se nofoaga e sili atu ona lelei i ona uiga aogā ma taua. Kumihimo Primary Function: Ato Maea Toso o se galuega na manumalo i le A' Design Award Platinamu e fafagu ai manaʻoga, faaosofia, faaoloa ai le fiafia, ma tupu ai le fiafia tele.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- Reinterpreting "KUMIHIMO" from the Edo period-a Japanese historical era (1603-1867), this bag features durability and flexibility through braiding. Minimalist design highlights the pure beauty of the technique. The structure symbolizes "MUSUBI," a concept signifying both physical links and spiritual bonds in Japanese. By joining leather parts with these cords, the design reflects this spirituality, delivering traditional beauty to daily life.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Size: H 210 × W 190 × D 150 mm
Handle Height: 105 mm (Metal Fittings), 150 mm (Drawstring Cords) - Tags
- Traditional Crafts, Kinchaku, Kumihimo, Craftsmanship, Leather, Japan, Repairable
- Production Technology
- A work filled with our workshop's craftsmanship.
Consisting of 20 precision leather parts, this bag uses hidden stitching and manual thread finishing to highlight the KUMIHIMO's beauty. Edge-painting on all 100 holes ensures both friction reduction and beauty. The cords were made by the craftsperson Ryuta Fukuda. The fusion of Tsuchiya Kaban’s leather craft and Fukuda’s expertise breathes soul into every detail, embodying the value of traditional craft. - Design Challenge
- The challenge of this project was to integrate traditional Kumihimo into a daily bag, balancing harmony with leather and functional beauty. To resolve this, we adjusted the placement of parts by hand in millimeter increments. We strictly managed sewing precision and repeatedly verified knot types and hardware shapes. As a result, we realized a design that fits modern lifestyles, harmonizing two distinct products into a single craft.
- Research
- Integrating traditional design into modern life.
By researching Kimono culture and modern bag usage, we identified "functionality, tactile feel, and visual balance" as key elements for daily integration. Through three prototyping rounds, we refined leather selection, hardware shape, and braiding to harmonize tradition with modern utility. This research-driven design creates a product ideal for daily use, effectively reaching audiences unfamiliar with traditional crafts. - Inspiration
- A bag reinterpreting Japanese tradition for modern life.
This work reconstructs Kimono culture's beauty into a functional bag, harmonizing traditional aesthetics with daily life. Instead of applying crafts as they are, we refined the design to blend into modern wardrobes, removing the distance felt toward traditional crafts. By integrating "KUMIHIMO" into the structure, we aimed to make craftsmanship feel accessible through a modern appeal that invites people to pick it up and experience it. - Project Duration
- Started in June 2022 at Tsuchiya Kaban in Tokyo. Mass production was completed at the Tsuchiya Kaban workshop in January 2024, marking the end of the project. It is currently not for sale.
- Operation Flow
- A versatile bag designed for diverse styles and occasions.
This piece accents casual attire and functions as a sophisticated party bag for formal events. When paired with Kimono, it creates a modern look; its minimal yet deep design enhances any style. It offers two carrying options: a casual, relaxed style like a drawstring bag, and an elegant style using the original metal handle inspired by "Chagama" (a tea ceremony kettle), adding a unique touch to your movements. - Team Members
- Traditional Craftsman (Kumihimo Braiding): Ryuta Fukuda
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