With many restrictions lifted and going out easier this season, THE TOTE, featuring tote bags, will be held during Golden Week as we welcome early summer. This event offers a selection of tote bags suitable for the new lifestyle and business style of this era, for those who want to enjoy both work and play.

1. Beloved "Signature" tote bags from established brands, and "Modified" tote bags.

We'll be introducing both classic models that have been popular at Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 's bag section, and evolved models that address customer feedback such as "they're a little too big" and "we want colors that are easier for women to carry."

OHBA has modified its handcrafted tote bag, showcasing expert artisanal skills, into a smaller size.

This business tote bag is from a long-established bag manufacturer that produces school bags designated by prestigious national and private elementary schools throughout Japan. Its signature style is the "Quon," a tote-boston type bag. The curved opening closes with a zipper, and even when the zipper is open, a magnet keeps the bag closed automatically. The signature material, normally German shrink leather, has been replaced with European calf leather, and the handles have been slightly shortened. This gives it a more dressy feel, and the size has been made slightly smaller to make it easier for both men and women to carry.

S.MANO/Es Mano's taupe color, also recommended for sharing, is a limited edition color available at select stores!

"Es Mano," whose name means "Speciale Mano" in Italian, offers a collection that blends high-quality craftsmanship with modern design. The signature "Rope Tote," made from a single piece of leather, has been a popular model since the brand's inception. Its simple structure, with a snap button closure and adjustable handle length via a knot, makes it a favorite. Initially available only in black and brown, this model is now available in four colors this season: taupe, light beige, camel, and navy. Moreover, taupe is a limited edition color available only at select stores. With its elegant carrying style, whether by hand or on the shoulder, it's a bag that can be carried by both men and women.

FARO, the Italian-made classic tote bag, has been revived in colorful new designs.

FARO, which took the world by storm with its superior craftsmanship, has been reborn as a minimalist lifestyle brand while retaining its commitment to craftsmanship and materials. The "Caprera" vertical tote bag, easy for businesswomen to use, is a复刻 (reissue) of the Italian-made model that was previously only available in black. It comes with a shoulder strap for easy carrying and is a convenient size for everyday use and business trips. It has a zippered opening and the interior is equipped with plenty of pockets for convenient organization of small items. It is available exclusively at Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building .
*Available for purchase at the FARO online store starting April 27th (Thursday).

PELLE MORBIDA flap tote, perfect for everything from cruises to the office.

Pelle Morbida, a brand that develops collections inspired by sea voyages—the "ideal form of travel"—offers elegantly designed bags while maintaining a focus on leather and craftsmanship. Its signature item is the "MB055" flap tote. The beautiful grain unique to domestically produced shrink leather is appealing, but the modified model replaces this leather with nylon from Limonta, an Italian company. By using a combination of leather and nylon, it has a modern look while being lighter and easier for women to carry, and this model is sold exclusively at select stores.

FELISI tote bag with genderless colors and design.

Felisi continues to create bags with traditional construction and sophisticated designs, and their designs are excellent and suitable for men and women, as well as for all ages and occasions. The signature "15/20/LD+DS" is a simple model made of supple leather. The shape can be changed with the strap at the opening, and the handles can be made a little longer so that it can be carried on the shoulder, making it a popular choice for both men and women as it offers versatility in how it can be carried. The leather used is soft kip leather, which is tanned with synthetic tannins that do not contain chromium, showing consideration for the environment. Until now, the color lineup has included black, navy, asphalt (gray), and tortora (beige), but this season a new color, pale pink, will be introduced. The faded pink is a color that is easy for men to carry as well, and it should be easy to share with your partner.

FRANCOIS RENIER / Francois Renier: A natural yet elegant canvas tote bag.

FRANCOIS RENIER, a bag brand known for using interior fabrics, has its flagship store in the 8th arrondissement, a district that offers the most quintessential Parisian streetscape. Their signature model is the market bag. This simple, rectangular tote bag is typically made from a cotton-polyester canvas. However, this modified model features new canvas colors. While the standard colors have previously focused on natural shades like gray and beige, the new additions include military-inspired khaki and navy. The combination with the two-tone handles makes it easy to coordinate with various outfits.

2. The "New Classic" tote bag is suitable for a wide range of daily occasions.

With business attire undergoing a major transformation from classic suits to more casual setups, and casual work attire becoming more common, the range of business tote bag designs is also expanding. We introduce a new classic tote bag that can be used both on and off duty, looking like a casual bag while still carrying documents and tablets.

DUREN/Duren: A tote bag whose shape is "created" by the user.

Based on the concept of "inner allure," this Japanese brand has a flagship store in Paris. Among its many collections, the "Crinkle Leather" series, made from an ultra-thin, shape-memory material, is an iconic piece. The square-shaped tote bag is made from Japanese cowhide that has been thinned to 0.5 mm and then pressed with an aluminum sheet. The concept is not only to change its shape, but also to carry around the unique wrinkles that appear in the leather as a part of its individuality. It looks good even when crumpled, and the more you use it, the more character it develops, allowing you to enjoy the process of it becoming uniquely yours, as well as the time spent thinking about what shape to make it.

texnh/Tekne: The subtle glimpses of Japanese aesthetics

A highly functional Tokyo-based bag brand has collaborated with a designer brand that focuses on Japanese aesthetics. This one-shoulder tote bag was designed as "a bag you'll want to carry in the Yugen style," featuring modern silhouettes such as dropped shoulders and a relaxed fit. The convenient size and the curved lines of the opening that follow the body are truly characteristic of Japanese aesthetics. The leather used for the main body is environmentally conscious Italian kip leather, demonstrating a strong commitment to materials. Available for pre-sale at select stores.
*General sales are scheduled to begin around early August.

Courtney Orla: A tote bag with an appealingly unique shape.

The bag brand that caused a sensation at its pop-up event Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building in August was a huge success again this March. For its third appearance, it will be offering only tote bags. By using original patterns unlike anything seen before, it creates three-dimensional shapes that have never been seen before. All of Courtney Orla's bags have unusual shapes, but the real gem is this signature "Slope Tote." Two flat pieces are combined, the side gussets are run diagonally, and the top is left raw-edged to form a box shape. With no unnecessary embellishments whatsoever, it is a tote bag that is very popular with women.

Livelty O: The material, handle, and how you hold it are all up to you.

This leather brand offers "haute couture" leather goods crafted by skilled artisans, each piece reflecting meticulous attention to detail. Their signature "Voyage" model incorporates a military bag design, featuring an internal wire frame that allows the top of the bag to be rolled up to prevent rain and dust from entering. The handle attachment point can be adjusted using rings, allowing the bag to be transformed from a clutch to a large-capacity tote. In addition to leather, the brand also offers a highly customizable collection, including nylon options.

3. A tote bag that will satisfy even the most discerning person.

Introducing limited-edition colors of the tote bag from ACATE , a collaboration between world-renowned fashion creator Tomoka Takada, who embodies the latest trends, and FUJITAKA tote bag, directed by Shingo Fujioka, who is well-versed in stylish business attire!
Incorporating the unique insights of the two designers, this tote bag has a story to tell, and its quality is sure to satisfy even the most discerning customers.

ACATE × Fashion Director Tomoka Takada

Takada: "We collaborated with ACATE , a rising star in Italian bag design, to create this bag from the ground up. While it's inspired by helmet bags, we've designed it so that it doesn't clash with your outfit. Another feature is the shoulder strap, which makes it comfortable to use even when you want to keep your hands free, such as when cycling."

FUJITAKA × AERA Style Magazine Editor-in-Chief, Shingo Fujioka

Fujioka-san: "We've redesigned the custom tote bag that we produced last year with FUJITAKA and AERA Style Magazine, this time in a color exclusive to Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building . We made it a very detailed custom design, with handles that are easy to carry by hand or on the shoulder, plenty of pockets, and a secure zip top. It's a masterpiece that can be used seamlessly, transcending on- and off-duty occasions and gender."

4. A custom-made tote bag that suits your taste.

The event will also feature custom-made tote bags. We'll have a selection from brands like OHBA , known for its simple and modern designs, and Frasolity, which shines with its commitment to high-quality materials. You can fully pursue creating your own unique and special bag through customization.

OHBA A minimalist tote bag crafted from history and artisanal skills.

This single-piece tote bag showcases craftsmanship passed down for over 80 years. Its minimalist construction, with stitching kept to a minimum, is another distinctive feature. Available in four sizes (the handle length can also be selected for the right-hand version) and 12 leather colors, the Italian shrink leather offers an incredibly soft finish.

A tote bag that lets you fully appreciate the beauty of Flathority material.

This tote bag, with its simple design that maximizes the beauty of the material, is crafted by a single artisan who handles every step from cutting to sewing. You can see the exceptional skill of this artisan in the meticulous finishing of the handle base and the metal studs on the bottom. You can order it in your choice of 9 colors of crocodile leather or 3 colors of shrunk calf leather.

5. A tote bag recommended as an affordable entry-level model.

We also introduce a cost-effective tote bag that achieves this by keeping the functions and interior of the original model reasonable and simple.

ETiAM 's new entry-level tote bag will be available for pre-sale at Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building !

From Etium, a brand popular for its collections that reinterpret traditional bag styles in a modern and elegant way while utilizing the craftsmanship of artisans, comes the new "Rays" tote bag, which will be exclusively available Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building . The integrated front and gusset create an elegant and soft silhouette. With an expanded color range, this model is suitable for all genders and ages.
*Sales will begin at ETiAM stores and other locations from Wednesday, May 3rd.

6. A versatile one-mile tote bag.

It's not ideal to have your pockets stuffed to the brim when you're just going for a walk with your smartphone, wallet, and keys. You might also want to stop by a convenience store for a quick errand. Here's a tote bag that's perfect for those short trips within a one-mile radius.

MANIUNO A convenient size for everything from golf to strolls around the neighborhood.

MANIUNO 's collection, designed for everyday use, boasts a lineup that exudes sophistication and modernity. The tote bag, which could also be used as a cart bag, is made from lightweight and soft ECCO leather with a camouflage pattern and perforations. It's also highly functional, featuring pockets perfect for holding water bottles and smartphones. The zipper pulls are adorned with charms made through fair trade in El Salvador.

UNKNOWNPRODUCTS paper bags recreated in colorful leather.

This leather tote bag, inspired by a shopping bag, is a staple model from UNKNOWNPRODUCTS that has been produced for over 10 years. Inspired by the brand-name paper bags carried by women, it uses high-quality leather from a domestic tannery. Made using the same manufacturing process as paper bags, it comes in a wide variety of colors. Its stylish design makes it perfect as a main bag or a secondary bag, and it looks great carried by both men and women. It's truly a bag that you wouldn't expect to find.

View the tote bag product list on Mitsukoshi Isetan Online.

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Photo: Tatsuya Ozawa (Studio Mug)

Text: Yasuyuki Ikeda