Issey Miyake, autumn 2006
4” x 4” base x 6” h. + cord

Adorable! This charming little bag is a unique combination of butter-soft leather and Kyoto bamboo with urushi lacquer. Hachiroh Kosuga, of the Kohchosai Kosuga Bamboo Gallery in Kyoto, is the bamboo designer. According to the gallery, “Kyoto bamboo gained the place in history when it was found ideal by Edison as the filament for his first electric lamps. And it is still highly prized for its purity, its natural flexibility and the living quality it retains even in finished works.

“With honor and respect for the bamboo, the craftsman combines his sensitivity and skill with this beauty in making a masterpiece. His creativity determines the value of the works.

“The delicate rhythm found in each piece is sometimes a harmony of the two.”

I was honored to be given this by a Japanese friend who knew of my passion for unique bags. It came from the Madison Avenue Issey Miyake boutique.

Popularity: 34% [?]

Technorati Tags: bamboo, Designer Handbags, issey miyake, kyoto bamboo, leather, urushi lacquer

Pleats Please by Issey Miyake, summer 1999
5 ¼” w. x 11 ½” h.

This drawstring pouch looks like a Mohawk when closed! It’s made of a wonderfully papery-feeling, crispy polyester. It was both pleated and silk-screened after fabrication, which resulted in the color striation on the pleats and the bleeding on the edges of the violet color block. The top edge of the bag was laser-cut into strips which are supported at their base by the lining.
I found this little handbag in the Pleats Please shop in Soho in the summer of1999.

Popularity: 21% [?]

Technorati Tags: Designer Handbags, issey miyake, pleats please

me by Issey Miyake, summer 2007
5’’ diameter x 5 ½”—7” h. (stretches with contents)

This amazing little reticule is another example of Issey Miyake’s unrivaled ability to manipulate fabric to create volume. A shibori technique has been used to magically transform black polyester chiffon into an ethereal bunch of grapes! The pouch is lined with teal crepe de chine, which gives a glow to the “grapes.”

My dear friend and fellow Issey devotee gave me this treasure for my birthday. She purchased it at the Madison Avenue Issey Miyake store.

Popularity: 31% [?]

Technorati Tags: Designer Handbags, issey miyake, me by issey miyake, shibori

Pleats Please by Issey Miyake, spring 2008—“Bilbao Bag”
13 ½” x 13 ½” + adjustable straps

I love how this foldable, collapsible bag resembles origami! According to the MoMA website, “the construction of this bag is inspired by the panels of metal that steel workers fuse together to create a functional structure.” Perhaps it’s another homage to Bucky!

Just like the geodesic dome bag, the triangles are polyvinyl chloride fused to polyester, only for this bag the poly is a mesh which provides lightness and movement to the unlined tote. I first saw this bag in the autumn of 2004 in both pewter and bronze at the Issey Miyake Tribeca store—gorgeous! Check out the Museum of Modern Art Design Store and Takashimaya New York for the current color selection. And no, it’s not available at the Guggenheim Bilbao, but there are two very cool silver museum logo totes by Chus Bures in the museum shop.

Popularity: 100% [?]

Technorati Tags: Designer Handbags, issey miyake, pleats please

Pleats Please by Issey Miyake, autumn 2003
13” diameter

When I first saw this in a boutique window, I thought it looked like a big squishy beach ball. Upon closer inspection, I realized it was a geodesic dome! I certainly can’t speak for Mr. Miyake’s design intentions, but to me it is a witty homage to the great Buckminster Fuller.

The triangles are polyvinyl chloride fused on polyester, made in Japan. A single magnetic snap closes the polyester lined bag.

Popularity: 20% [?]

Technorati Tags: Designer Handbags, issey miyake, pleats please