The fashion industry is known for its significant environmental impact. Therefore, various manufacturers and apparel brands have been focusing on improving materials and recycling to achieve a sustainable society.
Amid this movement, there is a brand in Tokyo's Taito Ward that specializes in bag-making. That brand is
TheContainerShop. They aim to create designs that minimize fabric waste and have established themselves with a commitment to tackling sustainability from where they can.
We spoke with Yasuharu Kobayashi, the representative, who shared the history behind the establishment of this factory brand and its philosophy of bag-making.
PROFILE
Yasuharu Kobayashi
After working in sales for a company dealing with fashion materials like buttons, he became independent.
He has been involved in the manufacturing and planning of OEM products for select shops for about 20 years.
He founded the bag brand "TheContainerShop," focusing on designing bags to minimize waste. Currently, he sells bags both domestically and internationally, primarily online, and open a physical store once a month.
A Lot of Wasted Fabric
Could you tell us about your background?
Before establishing TheContainerShop, I worked in sales for a company that handled fashion materials like buttons. After leaving, I founded a sewing factory for bags (now known as Container Japan inc.) and was involved in the manufacturing and planning of original products, including OEM items for select shops, for about 20 years.