erable
We have named our new bag brand "erable."
The word "erable" means "Kaedean" in Japanese, and we chose the same name as our store, which has been selling secondhand kimonos and obis for the past 15 years.
"Kaede" in "Kaedean" means maple leaves and the language of flowers is "beautiful change" and "harmony."
"Beautiful change" refers to the way the leaves change color with each season, and "Harmony" means that even if the leaves change color from season to season, they blend together without discomfort and complement each other beautifully.
Our Mission
Let traditional Japanese culture blend into fashion around the world.
Past : By selling used kimonos all over the world, we present the world the culmination of Japan's traditional techniques.
Now : We produce bags made from used kimonos and obis and sell them to the world.
There has long been a Shinto belief in Japanese culture that a god exists for everything. The idea is that lifeless things have a soul.
The concept of taking good care of the things we use every day, using them for a long time without replacing them easily, and passing on the craftsmanship that created them to future generations without ceasing has now become a value that has become widespread as a way of mindful life.
The kimono culture has been handed down in the same way.
In the Edo period, only a few wealthy families could afford to buy new kimonos. When the kimonos eventually became old, used kimono brokers would come and take them to used kimono stores. The general public buys kimonos from these secondhand clothing stores.
Used kimonos were not something to be ashamed of, but something very common to buy.
The old parts are used to make haori, zabuton, children's kimonos, diapers, etc., and when they become older, they are used to make rags, and when they are burned to ash, they are used as fertilizer.
Unlike western clothing, kimonos are not cut in three dimensions, so when they are untied, they return to a flat piece of cloth. This kind of construction also makes sense for reuse, and is probably one of the reasons why the culture of reuse was so commonplace.
Our mission is to pass on this culture to next generations, so that it does not fade away, and to make this mission a reality, we have launched the "Kaedean" brand of bags made from used kimonos and obis.
So why bags?
Fortunately, there are many people overseas who are interested in the kimono.
However, they all have a hard time learning how to wear it, and some of them give up. We felt that it would be loosing opportunities if people gave up wearing kimonos even though they had expressed interest.
So we began developing bags that anyone could carry.
Future : Traditional Japanese culture blends into fashion around the world.
Have you ever thought you have the perfect outfit for the day, but when you try it on, it's not quite right?
Bags made from kimono and obi are a culmination of the beauty of traditional Japanese techniques. They bring "beautiful change" and "harmony" to your daily coordinate and make your outfit more unique and sophisticated. Since no two bags have the same pattern line, you will have a one-of-a-kind bag.