Meet Our Craftspeople: Vol. 5 –Timeless Leather Designs, Crafted in Japan

At our atelier, around 200 craftspeople of all ages work side by side—each with a different background, but all sharing the same dedication to true artisanal craft. Some bring decades of experience and mentor the next generation, while others contribute fresh perspectives and new ideas.

Every bag we make passes through their hands—our Tsuchiya Kaban family.
Today, we’d like you to meet one of them; craftsperson Eri Sugita.

Eri Sugita, a craftsperson at Tsuchiya Kaban, is seated at a white table, smiling and looking off to the side, presumably at someone or something just out of frame. She is wearing a white long-sleeved shirt under a denim apron.

A Focus on Mastery

Eri Sugita, who exudes a quiet and soft energy, has been captivated by the concept of craftsmanship since her student days and has pursued a career focused solely on bag making. She excels particularly in manufacturing men's bags, adhering to the creed of carefully finishing fine threadwork and stitching. Though soft-spoken, you can feel her excitement when she talks about her work.

"I joined Tsuchiya Kaban five years ago. When I first set foot in the workshop, I was surprised to find many younger people than I had imagined, and everyone was so friendly. I had assumed they would all be like stubborn old men, but that wasn't the case at all; the cheerful atmosphere remains unchanged even now."

Eri Sugita, a craftsperson at Tsuchiya Kaban, is shown in a workshop setting, holding a black leather bag with a structured, rectangular shape.

Currently, she is mainly involved in the production of all leather bags, but the truth is, she prefers making bags that have a more masculine silhouette, more structure, and larger in size.

"I particularly love bags with a sense of gravity. I adore the elegant curves that shine within its solid appearance; it's the bag I idealize. Although I don't necessarily carry this size and stature of bag myself on a daily basis, I still want to create it. I appreciate it as an object and a work of art.”

My Path to Tsuchiya Kaban

"Since childhood, I've enjoyed creating things with my own hands. My mother had a hobby of making beaded accessories, so I started imitating her and making my own creations when I was in elementary school. Wanting to turn my passion for crafting into a career, I enrolled in a fashion school specializing in apparel.

At this vocational school, I majored in Bag Design. I chose bags from various categories and styles because I wanted to explore a variety of styles. The appeal lay in expanding my imagination within the constraints of "utility."

A close-up of hands guiding material through a sewing machine, showing neat stitching.

After graduating, I landed a job at a bag store that also had a repair workshop. Being able to work with various bags through repairs and talking to customers about their usage experiences on the sales floor was a valuable learning experience.

But gradually, the desire to create grew stronger.

"Then, by chance, I was approached by a craftsman from Tsuchiya Kaban, whom I had learned about in vocational school. It was a brand I had been interested in since my student days, so I was thrilled to join."

A diptych showing Eri Sugita, a craftsperson at Tsuchiya Kaban, engaged in sewing. The top image is a close-up of hands threading a sewing machine, while the bottom image shows her focused on operating the machine.

Interweaving Perspectives of "Attention to Detail" and "Big Picture"

"As a craftsman, what I prioritize is definitely meticulousness. It's part of my personality and also stems from my experience at my previous company where I did repairs and saw many worn-out bags. I felt that if the stitching had been done properly during the manufacturing stage, the bags might have lasted longer. That's why I'm committed to crafting with even more attention to detail."

Eri Sugita, a craftsperson at Tsuchiya Kaban, is depicted in a workshop setting, deeply engrossed in working on a brown leather bag. She is wearing a white collared shirt under a denim apron, which is her typical work attire.

For instance, in thread processing, she pays attention to every detail to ensure that the threads do not snag or come loose when customers use the bag. Secure areas where the threads might be prone to floating at the back, and burn the threads right to the edge to prevent fraying.

A close-up of hands meticulously hand-stitching a brown leather bag.

Since last year, Sugita has been entrusted with the role of leading production management. Having grown within her role has given her the confidence to lead a team.

Eri Sugita, a craftsperson at Tsuchiya Kaban, on the right, examining a brown leather bag alongside another person.

The Dream: Crafting Bags from Scratch

"I've always loved getting my hands dirty, so someday I'd like to be involved in planning and creating bags from the conceptual stage. Ultimately, my dream is to design my own original bags and bring them into the world. To achieve that, I need to be able to create samples based on my designs. I've been gradually learning about sample production lately, hoping to ensure that my vision is accurately reflected in the bags."

Patterns for leather crafting lying on a white surface with a black leather bag in the background.

"If you were to ask me what I want to create, it's definitely men's bags. The hurdle is still high for me, as I've just started studying sample production, but that's precisely why I want to challenge myself someday."

Redesigning and creating a compact, exquisitely detailed briefcase from scratch is no easy feat. As both an artisan and a leader, she believes that by diligently approaching each task with her characteristic attention to detail, she will accumulate the skills needed to realize her dream.