Stylish with a Compression Feature that Fits a Huge Volume: Work Like You're Traveling with HOLICC's “One” Backpack

Work like you're on a journey. Many people are drawn to this free-spirited, inspiring lifestyle. However, in reality, you face challenges like carrying too much stuff or the difficulty of seamlessly transitioning between travel and business settings.

The original brand "HOLICC" from Thinqlo Inc., has developed their “One” backpack to address those issues. It's designed with features for both travel and work—blending comfort for any occasion. We interviewed chief producer Hideyuki Saito, who led the development of this product.

Lightly Make "Working While Traveling" a Reality

How did HOLICC get started?

HOLICC was launched in 2020 by members who had been backpackers practicing the lifestyle of “working while traveling.”

Back then, there weren’t really any products that met the needs of both travel and work. So, we decided to create items that fit our own way of working and living—and deliver them to those who share the same values. That’s what set us on the path to product development.

What inspired the creation of the product “One”?

Before launching “One,” we released the shoulder bags “PackBag” and “PackBag+,” which featured built-in compression. Those became very popular, and it inspired us to incorporate that functionality into a backpack—which led to the development of “One.”

Compression bags themselves are still uncommon in the market. Some are designed with an air-pump, but “One” uses backpack zippers for simple, practical compression—we focused on keeping it user-friendly without the fuss.

“One” embodies the concept: "With just this, you can travel and work."

Careful Material Selection & Usability Focus

Tell us about the main feature of the "Sil Nylon CORDURA®" material used in “One.”

The outer fabric, called "Sil Nylon CORDURA®," is an “ultralight” type of the highly durable "CORDURA® nylon"—the same material used by the US military—and is finished with a silicone coating for water repellency and extra durability.

Normal water-repellent coatings tend to lose their effectiveness over time, but silicone coating is not only highly water-repellent by itself—its performance lasts, meaning you can use it for years.

If you use the same fabric everywhere, the design tends to look flat or boring, so we combine multiple water-repellent fabrics to add visual contrast and achieve a good balance between functionality and style.

Amidst the simplicity, there’s a unique design. What other design touches have you emphasized?

Sil Nylon CORDURA®︎ has a refined shine, so we use large-size YKK #10 zippers to give it a bolder, tougher look. Still, the overall design is kept minimal, so it’s approachable for any age or gender.

It’s not strictly business-use or outdoor-exclusive. We aimed for a versatile balance to smoothly transition between city and nature, daily life and travel.

Tell us about the features that improve usability.

The design makes it feel lighter than it actually is. There are three main reasons for this comfort—the first being the "two-level storage structure."

Even with the same weight, backpacks feel less heavy if the bulk is stored closer to your shoulders (the upper part) because it reduces movement.

Typical backpacks naturally fill up from the bottom, so they tend to feel heavier. In contrast, "One" is structured with upper and lower compartments. By putting heavier items in the upper space, users experience less weight strain while carrying it.

For reference, the lower compartment’s pockets are designed to be taller than those at the top, so you can store longer items such as water bottles, tumblers, or folding umbrellas with ease.

The second feature is the high-density, low-resilience shoulder harness, specially ordered from a core material manufacturer. Low-resilience material hugs the body, increasing the surface area in contact and evenly distributing the weight. However, if the material is too soft, the baggage pulls on it and the load shifts to the opposite side of your back.

By using a high-density low-resilience material, we have improved stability so the backpack isn't pulled backward and doesn't feel as heavy. The width and angle of the shoulder harness have also been tested and refined multiple times.

The third feature is its "structure that keeps its shape." Square backpacks tend to cave in at the top over time.

With "One," a plastic plate is inserted between the compression compartment and the other compartment, so compressing it doesn't crush the other space. This results in a structure that resists losing its shape. As a result, even after significant use, the storage areas and functions of the shoulder harness continue to perform well.

There are also many other user-friendly features: the backpack stands upright on its own, there is a strap for use with carry cases, a secret pocket on the back, and a card pocket on the shoulder harness—showcasing our attention to detail in usability.

You mentioned collecting a lot of user feedback such as through a buyer survey. Can you share a case where this feedback was reflected in the product?

If you count all the small things, there have been countless changes (laughs). One example: Some users mentioned that "when unzipping the PC space and trying to put in the PC, it would catch on the inner pocket."

To address this, we moved the pocket so the PC can go directly into the compartment instead of the pocket inside. The relocated pocket on the opposite side can now be used for documents, tablets, etc.

We can't implement every suggestion, but customer feedback is essential for updating "One."

The Latest in the "One" Series: "One mini"

We heard that the new "One mini" will be launching next in the series. What sparked its development?

Since "One" is 46 cm tall and 28 cm wide, there were requests—especially from female users—for a smaller size. That's why we developed "One mini."

The height is now 39 cm, with the width unchanged. The main compartment holds 13 liters; the compression section holds 10 liters—making it 3-7 liters more compact than "One." Because the overall height is lower, the upper pocket in its two-level structure is also shorter.

This results in a slightly smaller top pocket, but the shallow depth makes it easier to see what’s inside. The height of the bottom pocket remains the same, so longer items can still fit just like in "One."

We’ve also added more variations for "One mini." In addition to the version made from Sil Nylon CORDURA®︎ (as with "One"), there’s now also a version with a glossy, smooth, thick polyester fabric on the front, available in black and greige.

Since "One" was only available in black Sil Nylon CORDURA®︎, some customers felt, "It's so useful I want to recommend it, but it's awkward to recommend something that's exactly the same as mine." By increasing the variations, we hope people can share our products more freely.

Finally, can you tell us about future plans?

Our mission is to "make a lifestyle with no boundary between travel and work an ordinary option." Our products "One" and "One mini" are the first step toward that mission.

Looking forward, we plan to further expand the size options for bags and focus on developing apparel products as well. We’ll continue striving to create environments where travel and work can be balanced.

Saito notes, "The lighter you travel, the easier it is to start your journey." HOLICC will continue to be a beloved brand, inspiring people who want more freedom at work and in life.