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Hello, everyone. Since the launch of our pre-orders, we have received a tremendous response to the "Tourmaline Green" series, our new 20th-anniversary staple color. Thank you so much for the overwhelming number of orders. The exclusive, limited-to-20-piece first production run, meticulously hand-stitched by our artisans, is finally entering the final countdown.
This is the final installment of our three-part development story for Tourmaline Green. Following our first installment, "Commitment to a New Staple and the Secret of the Color," and the second, "Functionality and Styling Embodied in the Y7 and Y4," we conclude with the heart of the craftsmanship that breathes life into these beautiful products—a story of the master artisans in Toyooka, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan’s greatest hub for bag production.
No matter how superior the materials or how beautiful the design, without the skill of "sewing" to bring it to life, it cannot become a tough, iconic piece that can be used vigorously every day. Why do YOUTA bags maintain their form and dignified presence after years of use? We invite you behind the scenes of the factory to discover the secret.
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1. Never compromising the shadows of the Intrecciato. Artisan fingertips challenging sub-millimeter precision.
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Toyooka City, located in the northern part of Hyogo Prefecture, is Japan’s largest center for bag production, with a history of creating "tools for carrying" that dates back over a thousand years, starting with "willow boxes" in the Nara period. Every YOUTA bag is hand-crafted one by one by master artisans in "Toyooka Kaban" certified factories, which meet the area's exceptionally strict quality standards.
The key to the beauty of the new "Tourmaline Green" is the PVC material featuring the "Intrecciato" (woven design) pattern on the center panel.
To express the three-dimensional shadows reminiscent of a tourmaline gemstone, this material is embossed with extremely fine, sub-millimeter irregularities. When sewing this onto the bag, even the slightest deviation in needle position or change in tension can distort the beautiful lattice pattern on the surface, ruining its elegant luster. Factory artisans delicately feel the subtle changes in the PVC material's firmness caused by the day's temperature and humidity. By masterfully controlling the sewing machine's speed, they sew stitch by stitch with pinpoint accuracy. The smooth curves of the bag’s corners and the beautiful straight lines where parts meet are a testament to artistic craftsmanship that is only possible thanks to the "muscle memory" of artisans with many years of experience.
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2. Obsessive attention to the hidden interior that supports an "item for life."
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Our goal for this Tourmaline Green (Y7, Y4) series was to ensure that "customers can continue to use it with pride even 10 years from now."
To achieve this, we have thoroughly updated not just the exterior, but also the "usability" the moment you open the bag.
The interior of this model features a "bright beige lining" that exudes refined, adult sophistication. The moment you open the bag, the contents are illuminated and easily visible, eliminating the stress of searching for small items that have sunk to the bottom. Skilled artisans hand-apply this lining with meticulous precision, ensuring there are no ripples or wrinkles.
Furthermore, the key to the convenience of this Tourmaline Green is the "removable partition located in the center."
Designed to neatly organize laptops, A4 documents, and essential gadgets, this partition also serves as internal reinforcement, helping to maintain the bag’s beautiful shape thanks to the artisans' precise engineering. On days when you want more space for your belongings, simply detach it with the snap buttons to transform the interior into a vast single-compartment space. From high-pressure business days to trips or casual days with extra luggage, the structure allows you to freely adapt the interior to your lifestyle.
"We focus on the user’s daily life and instill our pride as artisans in the parts that remain hidden."
It is precisely because of this near-obsessive dedication by Toyooka's artisans that we can offer "value that exceeds the price"—a bag that is incredibly tough even on rainy days and remains beautiful 365 days a year. |
3. The "final countdown" for early-bird bonuses and the release in late December.
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As mentioned, because each Tourmaline Green bag is hand-crafted by Toyooka artisans, the first production run is limited to "a total of only 20 pieces for both Y7 and Y4," making it an exceptionally rare opportunity.
And there is one more important point.
Our highly acclaimed official online store exclusive pre-order bonus: the "not-for-sale genuine leather key strap." Crafted from high-quality, jet-black genuine leather that beautifully accentuates the world of green, this exclusive gift is available only to the first 20 customers who pre-order from the first production run. By gently attaching it to the bag’s handle, it elevates the bag’s overall class. Availability for this special limited run and the exclusive strap is running very low. If you are debating between the S and M sizes or wondering if it's right for you, making your decision while these first-run slots are still available is the wisest choice.
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4. Late December: The "supreme partner" for rewarding yourself and starting the new year.
 This has been the three-part development story of our 20th-anniversary new staple, "Tourmaline Green."
The drama that began with gratitude for our long-time companion, the navy, has now brought together all the pieces: our brand's dark green DNA, the rain-defying beauty of the Intrecciato PVC, the highly functional beige interior with its removable partition, and the craftsmanship of Toyooka, the holy land of bags. It will soon be in your hands. Arrival and delivery to you are scheduled for late December, a time of year when we look forward to gifts and rewards for ourselves.
Imagine holding your "Tourmaline Green" against the sleeve of your new heavy winter coat, and picturing your morning commute in the new year with a fresh, crisp feeling. It will surely make your daily work time feel a little more proud and dramatic. Until the moment the first 20 bags are sold out, I look forward to this once-in-a-lifetime encounter with each of you.
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【Click here for the 20th Anniversary New Staple Tourmaline Green Reservation Page】
※The first production run is limited to 20 pieces. Once the limit is reached, pre-orders with the bonus (not-for-sale leather strap) will end.
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There are plenty of high-quality items for men's clothing, but not many for bags. So we decided to make our own. That straightforward thought led to the launch of the leather bag brand "YOUTA" in 2006. With my background in various apparel jobs—including clothing, watches, and shoes—the material I focused on was synthetic leather. It is lightweight, water-resistant, and requires no maintenance. Another reason for choosing "vegan leather," a non-animal material suited for modern times, was to stay current. Through the Japanese tradition of craftsmanship, we aim to provide a comfortable business life for working people and support Japan's manufacturing industry. Representative: Kenta Sugawara |
