The big shopper that captivated the world.

What did we discover from it?

 

Saint Laurent, MM6, Coach, Ralph Lauren, and otnek&ebanat. We compared the big shoppers from these five brands.

 

In 2022, LYST, which analyzes fashion industry trends, selected Saint Laurent's ICARE as the "hottest item in the world" for that year.

A large, soft big shopper that leverages the lightness of lambskin. Images of celebrities casually slinging it over their shoulders spread around the world, giving birth to a new context: "big bags = luxury."

As manufacturers, we observed that news.

ICARE proved the demand for the big shopper category. A large capacity, easy to carry, blending into both daily and extraordinary life. There are people all over the world who desire such a bag.

So, what would it be if we made it? That's how ANORA was born.

 

This time, with ANORA as the centerpiece, we will introduce four other bags that can be discussed in the same context of big shoppers.

01　Saint Laurent　ICARE Maxi Shopping Bag

The one that ignited this category.

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I've been wondering what made ICARE so appealing to people.

One of the answers, I believe, is that "it looks light despite being large." Lambskin has finer fibers than cowhide, making it a material that offers strength even when thin. The rhomboid quilting provides shape retention without sacrificing overall softness. Whether empty or slung over the shoulder, it maintains a naturally flowing silhouette.

The Cassandre logo, while decorative, is also an integral part of its structure. This bag possesses that density of design.

 

 

02　MM6 Maison Margiela　Japanese Bag Medium

A deconstructed bag born from Japanese origami.

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This bag holds a special personal significance for me.

A bag named "Japanese Bag" was born from a Parisian brand in 2009 and is beloved by people all over the world. Its triangular form, inspired by origami, and its structure that can change shape with snap buttons. The Japanese aesthetic is being conveyed to the world through European designers.

As a creator, it was genuinely inspiring.

The surface changes its expression depending on how the light hits it. When snapped closed, it becomes a gusseted bag; when opened, it expands widely. The design of having multiple faces in one bag is a deconstructionist idea characteristic of Margiela. The continuous updates with different materials each season also convey the brand's integrity.

03　Coach　Brooklyn Shoulder Bag 39

The more you use it, the more it becomes your own.

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Coach's leatherwork has been at the core of the brand since 1941. Natural grain leather is a finish that preserves the natural irregularities of the leather surface, and it molds to your hand more as you use it.

What I'm focusing on with the Brooklyn 39 is the perfection of its hobo silhouette. It's large yet not clunky. It falls naturally when slung over the shoulder. I believe this line-making is the culmination of years of experience from a brand that has been crafting leather bags for a long time. It has enough storage capacity for A4 documents, and even a 16-inch MacBook Pro.

04　Ralph Lauren　Polo Play Leather Tote M

Choose your mood with color.

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The Polo Play collection is born from the same spirit as Ralph Lauren's polo shirts: high-quality materials with playful colors. Offering full-grain leather in such a colorful range requires both technical skill and brand confidence.

The pebbled leather surface changes its expression depending on how the light hits it. The design, allowing different ways of carrying it depending on its use, is also practical.

05　otnek&ebanat　ANORA

What we learned from ICARE, and our answer.

ICARE showed the world the possibility that "a big shopper can be light." It was a refutation of the long-held assumption that large-capacity bags must be heavy.

Starting from that point, we thought a step further. What is necessary if it's to be used every day?

Weighing 350g, we minimized the interior as much as possible for a large-capacity bag. The main body is a single piece of fabric, designed to only bear the weight of its contents. The handle is made of six layers of Ultrasuede® to reduce strain on the shoulder.

The material is Ultrasuede®—a suede-like artificial leather developed by Toray. It's soft, high-quality, and can be machine-washed. This was only made possible by combining it with a metal-free structure.

And what we were most particular about was the silhouette. It shows various expressions depending on the size and weight of what's inside, but we calculated the firmness of Ultrasuede to achieve a beautiful balance in any shape. That's what we focused on.

A bag named "Japanese Bag" is loved worldwide. Knowing that, we are making Japanese bags in Asakusa, using Japanese materials and Japanese sewing techniques.

Styling Tips

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※Information for products other than ANORA is taken from their respective websites. It may contain incorrect information.

 

Conclusion

The "big shopper" category was rediscovered by the world in ICARE 2022. The demand for large, soft bags that can hold all of one's daily essentials was real.

Saint Laurent offers lambskin. MM6 with deconstruction concept. Coach with grain leather and NY silhouette. Ralph Lauren with cow leather and color. Each offers a different answer to this category.

We answered with Ultrasuede®, a light weight of 350g, and the practicality of being fully washable.

If you are interested in ANORA, please visit the product page.

 

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