Wa Design Bags is a specialty store offering Japanese bags made of materials originally intended for traditional kimono & obi sashes.
About our bags
We carry small & medium sized tote bags, shoulder/cross body bags, and small purses that were made by hand with fabrics for kimono & obi sashes. 和, the Chinese character for Wa, means harmony and peace, and is also used to refer to something Japanese.
Each of our bags is one-of-a-kind, crafted with heart, and individually acquired in Japan. We believe that their unique designs and materials will make a distinctive and pleasing addition to your bag collection, and that they can serve as eye-catching fashion items beyond something to simply carry your essentials.
Creating kimono & obi bags is a project which promotes sustainability. The materials used for our bags are pre-loved or unused seasoned stocks of fabrics that have been cleared or donated by individuals or old kimono dealers. We are keen to support activities that repurpose kimono & obi materials that have been neglected or are no longer suitable for wearing.
Wa Design Bags aims to introduce lovely kimono & obi repurposed bags as well as other unique items from Japan to people in the US.
We hope you will enjoy our products as favorite items for your wardrobe, and as gifts for someone you love!
History of kimono
What comes to mind when you are asked about traditional Japanese culture? Kabuki? Sumo? Tea ceremony? Well, the most popular answer might be “Kimono”, which are often associated with Japanese women in ukiyoe prints or maiko ladies in Kyoto.
The kimono (着物), which literally means something (物) to wear (着る), is a traditional Japanese garment and the national dress of Japan. The obi (帯) is a broad sash to be worn around the waist with the kimono.
The origin of the kimono goes back to the Heian period (794-1185). The kosode, which means garment with cylindrical sleeve with small openings, is considered as precursors to today’s kimonos. In old Japan, the size and shape of the sleeves represented the wearer’s social status. Whereas the upper, ruling class originally wore osode (meaning big sleeves with big openings) on top of kosode as undergarments, the commoners wore kosode as outer garments because of the physical labor they had to endure. It was not until the late 16th century that kosode were worn as outer garments without class distinctions.
It is worth noting that the kimono remained everyday wear for Japanese women until WWII, changing its shape and styles in some details, adding new materials such as cotton to the original silk and hemp, and incorporating new dyeing and weaving techniques over several centuries. There are stunningly beautiful kimono worn by the upper or ruling class people, plain kimono that the commoners used, kimonos with Western influence in the early 20th century… There are a wide range of kimono in its long history.
As for the obi, simple strings or narrow belts were replaced in the mid-17th century by the wide obi which we see today.
Sustainable reuse
Demand for kimono & obi has shrunk dramatically over the last 40 years. Despite unchanged admiration from many Japanese, the traditional silk kimonos are so special and formal that they are worn only on special ceremonial occasions, coupled with difficulty in their dressing and maintenance.
There is an abundant supply of older antique/vintage kimono & obi as well. Unfortunately, they tend to have damages caused by mold, stains, pests, or simply just age. Some families receive kimono & obi from their ancestors but struggle to find ways to use them. Even minor damage can reduce the monetary value and make it difficult to find someone to wear the kimono. Older kimonos also tend to be too small for modern women.
We believe that old kimono & obi fabrics are perfect materials for repurposing into bags and other fashion items. We love upcycling these traditional treasures!