It took me a few minutes to realize why this Kobashi Studio Backpack is so attractive. It’s not because it’s got bells and whistles. It’s not because it’s charmingly old-school or completely modern. It’s just pure simplicity. It’s a fundamentally beautiful Backpack, engineered to perfection by Japanese artisans in Hyogo.
The first thing that caught my eye was that chocolatey brown paraffin-waxed canvas. Waxed fabrics are a dime-a-dozen in modern times, but this stuff weighs in at 19 oz. per square yard and is produced by a Japanese textile company that has been in the game for over 120 years. In fact, pretty much all of the fabrics, trims, and hardware on this Backpack are sourced from time-honored Japanese makers, which is probably the main ingredient of its splendor.
In terms of silhouette, Kobashi Studio’s Backpack is about as simple as they come. Aside from the two compartments, the only feature is a laptop pocket, making this bag ideal if you just want to transport your lunch, a light jacket, and your laptop to work.
Packed with the potential to earn patina across the board, from the aforementioned waxed canvas to the Japanese vegetable-tanned saddle leather zip pulls and brass buckles, this is a bag you’ll love more and more with each use.
Available for $394 from Redcast Heritage.
