Never Worry About Your Bag Choice in Bad Weather Again! CIE’s "APPLY" Is the Smart Choice, Featuring Sympatex®

In city life, we often find ourselves swapping out our bags and belongings just because of a little rain. It happens more than you'd think. To tackle this everyday challenge, Japanese bag brand CIE has unveiled its solution: the APPLY.

Rather than aiming for a completely waterproof design, CIE focused on the perfect balance between usability and style. This backpack, designed with "just enough" water resistance for city living, is a clear reflection of CIE's core philosophy.

We sat down with Takashi Fujioka, the brand's CEO and designer, to get the inside story on how this model came to be.

A Design Philosophy Born from the Realities of Urban Life

"Cause In Effect"—this is the core concept behind CIE, where gear is designed based on the realities of urban life.

“We don't view a product's completion as the finish line. We see the entire creative process as a cycle where every result gives rise to a new cause.”

“We look at how a bag is used and what feedback we receive. That result becomes our starting point for figuring out what to reconsider and where to make updates.”

"APPLY" was developed to give a clearer form to this brand concept.

“It's a high-end series where we started with the premise of city life, analyzed user behaviors and environmental factors, and from there, cherry-picked only the essential functions and structures.”

Never Worry About Your Bag in Bad Weather: The Practical Solution

So, what kind of backpack is APPLY, the newest addition to the series?

“When you live in the city, you often have to choose your bag for the day based on the weather forecast. Heavy-duty, fully waterproof outdoor bags can feel like overkill, and their bulky designs don't always vibe with your daily style. On the other hand, a sudden downpour can leave you anxious if your bag isn't up to the task. This model was born from tackling that mismatch and those everyday worries.”

“We aimed to create a bag you could use seamlessly in your daily routine without having to second-guess your choice because of the weather. To achieve that, we reassessed the balance between necessary water resistance, lightness, and design.”

Featuring a German-Made Waterproof and Breathable Membrane

To bring this backpack to life, CIE set its sights on Sympatex®.

Developed in Germany, Sympatex® is a membrane material that delivers an advanced combination of waterproof, windproof, and breathable properties. With a water pressure resistance of up to 35,000mm and a moisture permeability of 20,000g/m2/24h, its performance is on par with what you’d find in high-end outdoor apparel.

What's more, the material is environmentally friendly—a key factor in their decision. All three layers are made of 100% recyclable polyester, and it's produced without harmful chemicals like fluorocompounds.

“Backpacks, by design, are more exposed to rain than a shoulder or tote bag, even when you're using an umbrella. That's why the superior water resistance of Sympatex® was so appealing to us.”

However, using a membrane designed for apparel presented its own set of challenges.

“Compared to traditional bag fabrics, it's thinner and has less body and stiffness. That meant it had a tendency to lose its shape, which is a drawback for a bag.”

In fact, despite its proven track record in outdoor apparel, the material isn't often used for the exterior of backpacks. So, CIE opted to compensate for this through structural design.

“We reinforced it by strategically adding padding and layering the fabric, which acts like a skeleton for the bag. Our focus was on creating a solid bag structure while still taking full advantage of the unique properties of Sympatex®.”

The meticulous attention to waterproofing is evident in the details.

"The zippers feature YKK's WATER-R™ treatment. Unlike conventional methods that simply coat the surface, this process involves soaking the zipper in a water-repellent solution, allowing the agent to saturate the fabric. As a result, the water-repellent properties are exceptionally long-lasting."

The Smart Choice to Forgo Complete Waterproofing

But as noted earlier, the bag isn't fully waterproof.

"CIE bags feature a lot of three-dimensional curves and overlapping fabric sections. Insisting on a completely waterproof construction would have severely limited our design freedom. On top of that, there are hardly any facilities in Japan that can reliably provide that level of waterproofing.

For that reason, when we considered an accessible price point and practical use in the city, we concluded that being fully waterproof wasn't the ultimate answer. What we focused on instead was creating a comfortable experience for daily, long-term use."

The backpack feels light to carry, and the shoulder harnesses are meticulously designed for ease of use, incorporating cushioning to alleviate the strain from a full load.

"Furthermore, the back mesh uses a moisture-wicking, quick-drying material to combat sweat and stuffiness."

There’s clear intent behind the size and arrangement of the pockets.

"We designed it so you can neatly organize your everyday essentials, which are trending smaller these days. At the same time, we kept the number of pockets to a minimum to maintain a sleek, non-cluttered design."

The design is remarkably simple, intentionally omitting any parts that overtly broadcast their function. This allows it to blend seamlessly with your daily outfits, eliminating the need to swap bags just because of the weather.

Every aspect of the APPLY backpack is efficient and purposeful. It delivers just the right amount of waterproofing through practical means, while perfectly balancing lightness, carrying comfort, storage, and design—nothing more, nothing less.

This is the culmination of a series of "practical decisions centered on daily use," offering users the priceless benefit of "never having to second-guess their bag choice." It’s a backpack for the modern urbanite, one that quietly absorbs the stress of daily decisions.