Perfect everyday crossbody tote from Ichizawa Shinzaburo Hanpu
Ichizawa Shinzaburo Hanpu Crossbody Tote
Often, when I shop for new bags, I have to examine the pictures on the websites. Enlarge it, looking at the stitches, asking about the material they use, and going through the reviews. While most reviews these days are questionable, one thing I can always depend on is Japanese craftsmanship! Ichizawa Shinzaburo Hanpu is the staple of craftsmanship standards. All their bags are handmade with natural material in Kyoto, Japan, by their experienced makers.
The bag I like to talk about today is their S-03 crossbody cotton tote bag. I purchased this tote about two months ago, and I have been using it regularly when I was out. I don't baby it. I tossed it around inside my car that desperately needs cleaning, and it has been fine! I haven't seen any stains or damages.
The color I bought was navy. It is a gorgeous deep blue that I don't see anywhere. The color is consistent throughout the whole bag. Even the webbing, straps, and threads they used are the same. This beautiful blue bag is accompanied by unique silver hardware. The silver hardware isn't that kind of cheap-looking silver you see on most affordable bags. The silver is slightly matte, and you can see their logo embossed on the zipper pull tap. The cotton fabric they used feels thick and durable. The material is treated so that it is more weather resistant. It was a little stiff when it first came but slightly softened after two months of use. I do like the structure of this tote; as it ages and becomes softer, I will have to adapt to its different phases of looks.
The handles were made of thick webbings attached and sewed on the body of the bag, and they also added rivets to make the handles long-lasting. The handles have the right thickness. They are comfortable to hold, and they don't flop over. Ichizawa uses the same webbing for the crossbody strap. It is tough and durable, not those flimsy webbing we usually see at the craft stores. To strengthen the bag, they use double layers of fabric for the bottom part, which also helps the bag retain better structure. At the bottom of the tote, five studs were added so that when you put your bag down, it is not directly sitting on the ground.
As much as I love a bag, there are potential modifications to improve this crossbody tote. When the maker hammered the fabric to form that structure look, he or she may have been a little heavy-handed on the front pocket. The corners are showing white, which may be the parts that will break first after years of usage. I like how studs were added at the bottom, but I wished they added a layer of padding on the inside, so when I use it to carry my cameras, they won't brush against the metal parts. The last thing I would love to see modification on is the inner pocket. I like its zipper pocket, great for storing small things like batteries for my cameras. I only wished it was a little deeper, considering this is a good size bag.
All and all, they have a lifetime guarantee on their bags. If something went wrong, you can either send it back for repair or the next time when you take a trip to Kyoto. I love using this bag, and I don't baby it. It is unique, and you are not likely to run into anyone using the same bag in the United States.
