WORKERS_Deluxe Tote Bag_Navy Body x Red Handle

Deluxe tote bag, second time.

There's one subtle change: the handle tape has been changed from acrylic to a thicker cotton-rayon power loom tape.

After a long and thorough search, I finally found the manufacturer. I now understand things I couldn't figure out from the accessory suppliers. Even though it's all called "tape," the texture changes considerably depending on the equipment and the type of thread used.

Even within the "same" range, the looms used are actually different. This tape is the thickest I've ever used.

The "spun fiber" in "cotton/spun rayon" is an abbreviation for "staple fiber," and it refers to "spun rayon" or "short-fiber rayon."

The dimensions are 34cm wide, 16cm deep, and 31cm high. It's what's considered a medium size. The handles are short, making it for hand-carrying only.

I considered a long handlebar, but the handlebar width is narrow, so no matter how long it is, it will still feel cramped. Therefore, I'm sticking with the short handlebars I already have.

I considered adding an outer pocket, but the gap between the handles is too narrow. Even if I forced one on, it wouldn't be very practical as a pocket, so I ultimately decided against it.

The handles are a contrasting color to the main body of the bag. The same fabric as the bottom is sewn onto the tape.
Here too, a two-needle sewing machine is used, folding the left and right sides of the fabric while ensuring it lies in the center of the tape.
Equipment is everything! So, once again, I went all the way to a factory in northern Kanto.
Of course, it's made in Japan.

No matter how many examples I show people, I just can't rest easy unless I explain these things myself.

Fold and sew the edges of the fabric on the sides in an alternating pattern. This will form the frame of the bag, allowing it to stand on its own even when empty.

The main body is made of No. 6 canvas, which weighs 18.9 ounces.
The bottom and the part that rests on the tape are made of No. 11 canvas, which is equivalent to 12 ounces.
It weighs approximately 472-475g.

Is the body slightly lighter than the original? However, the Japanese JIS standard canvas and the original canvas (duck) have different specifications, so to make something that is perfectly identical, you would probably have to make it from scratch, starting with the thread.

Previously, when we developed a D-river-style oxford fabric with a fabric supplier, we used a yarn count that was practically unheard of in Japan.

It seems that the US uses "Tex" and Japan uses "count." Because the standards are different, a standard count yarn in Japan may not be available in the US Tex system. Conversely, a standard Tex yarn in the US may not be available in the Japanese count system.

In the end, the D River style fabric was made using an unusual yarn count, sometimes called "edge count," thanks to the economies of scale of the fabric manufacturer.

With this tote bag, we don't want to make it exactly the same as the original; rather, we want to create something that meets Japanese standards and comes close to the original, and in some ways even surpasses it.

I think the stitching is so much better than the original. As expected from a Japanese sewing factory.
The fabric has a beautiful weave. The tape is flexible and easy to hold.

However, the original has its own unique charm, with its rough and tough fabrics and components. The stitching is rather haphazard, as if to say, "As long as it doesn't break, it's fine." But that's part of its appeal.

Different countries produce different results. Please take a look and see the differences for yourself.

The above is reprinted from the official WORKERS website.

New colors are now available for the Deluxe Tote bag. The tape has been thickened, making it even more durable.

With so many color options, it's even harder to choose!