stilegiapponese Archives

The Rubber Band Eco Bag

13 May, 2022

Minimal design #formodernhumans

Today we introduce The Rubber Band Eco Bag – by ZUCCa.

It is a pocketable eco bag with a minimal and functional design that will add a modern touch to your style. Although part of the Spring-Summer collection, it is a seasonless accessory. And you can carry it with you as your main handbag, when you want something lightweight, or as an extra bag.

About the design
There is a colour block rubber band with a logo in the centre, and if you fold it around the rubber and turn it over, it will become a compact pocketable size. When folded up, thanks to a carabiner hidden under the rubber band, you can hang it on other bags and carry it around. So you’ll have it always on hand when you need it.

About the material
This shopping bag is made from a recycled polyester fabric made from recycled PET bottles.

Perhaps by recycling, we will not save the world, but it is a good choice since we are surrounded by plastic. And so, giving new life and new forms to PET is just one of the possibilities we should implement to reduce our impact on the environment.

About the colour
We picked out three different combinations. There is a chic version in grey with a fluo light green rubber band. But there are also vivid colours such as yellow with a white rubber band and purple with a turquoise rubber band.

Sizes
H50 W30 D10
Big enough to carry an A4 size file.

Laundry
Hand washable, easy-care.
Wash by hand in cold water.

Eco tip: having with you an additional bag is a thoughtful strategy to avoid taking shoppers from retailers. So, you just use and reuse yours.

The Rubber Band Eco Bag is cool and practical. Also, this accessory can be a lovely gift.

Drop us a message for any further information. We’d love to assist you!

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Tabi (足袋) shoes, cool Japan?

4 April, 2022

Culture, traditions and fashion

The Tabi in today’s fashion

These days some high brands produce split-toe shoes called Tabi. Originally, Tabi are Japanese traditional socks with a separate section for the big toe and the rest. In Japanese, Tabi is written in “足袋” – literally meaning foot-pouch.

During the fashion week in Milano, I saw many Tabi boots and shoes from different brands. As a Japanese person, it was very interesting to see how Tabi shoes are becoming more and more fashion-iconic items nowadays.

Its simple, yet unique shape, is truly cool. I agree!

The history behind the Tabi

As you might picture, Tabi socks are usually worn with Zouri, footwear for Kimono. That is probably the most common image that people have of this item.

Yet, Tabi is not only for Zouri. It was used traditionally for various Japanese traditional footwear, such as Waraji (草鞋). Waraji is the rice straw rope sandals commonly worn during the Edo period.

In my 5th grade, I spent all my summer knitting 3 pairs of Waraji. My elementary school had a tradition that all the 5th graders hiked for 9 hours on “Kyu-kaido Ishidatami” – the old highway in Hakone, with their knitted Waraji. Of course, Tabi was a must with Waraji.

A mere traditional style?

It is intriguing that some high brands, such as Margiela, are inspired by the Tabi shape. Yet, Tabi has its own value and history behind it. It is culture, and it is tradition. Tabi is not just a trendy item.

So it would be disappointing if the people would consume Tabi as a mere fashion icon with simple “Japaneseness”.
Imagine if the fast fashion brands would mass-produce Tabi shaped shoes, making them even more accessible to general consumers. The value would no longer matter.

I am very pleased to see that Japanese traditional culture is being internationally appreciated and more recognized throughout different mediums. But if I saw an overuse or overconsumption of Tabi shaped shoes, I would perhaps get mixed feelings.

I encourage you to tell what is mass and what is special!

A piece written by Kotono Sakai, a Japanese girl studying history and fashion at Cattolica university in Milan and interning for suite123

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