DOUBLE　PETAL

The Story Behind our Name

One day in March 2011, I looked up at the red plum flowers from the over 100 year old plum trees in my family’s home garden. It was five days after the Fukushima, Miyagi, and Iwate (Great North east region) earthquake where a large earthquake hit the shoreline of the north-east coast of Japan. Many lives were lost and the continuing nuclear power plant explosion put the entire nation in a state of deep sadness and worry for the future.
On this day, the double petal pink plum flowers were in full blooming under the clear blue sky. They appeared brave, pretty, and even the subtle sweet fragrance of flowers was carried by the winds. From watching these flowers, I got a message of encouragement – to stay strong. It also inspired me to want to do something that will brighten the future.
Plum flowers bloom in winter when it is still cold outside, preceding spring as if it is a message to spread hope that spring is coming soon.
 
DOUBLE PETAL, our artistic presentation of handbags represented by the double petal plum flower, speak to the souls of women who live strongly and elegantly and who look forward to tomorrow. The circle around the plum flower is a form of a family crest used traditionally in Japan to symbolize the unique family. We believe that all of those related to the Double Petal’s clutch handbags – including the customers that use them, the artisans making embroideries, the craft-workers, and the sellers at stores, are part of the Double Petal family. We wish that every person in the family’s dreams and wishes will be blooming beautifully and fully like the double petal of the plum flower.

FAMILY　CREST

Family crests were used for kimono, swords, fine china and at the gates of homes and castles to announce the family to which the property belongs. It is also the symbol of the history and traditional goods that each family passed down over the generations.
 
What makes our bags special?
One-of-a-Kind clutch bag in the world!
Double Petal makes uniquely One-of-a-Kind Clutch Bag in the world. Materials are antique, and include upcycled new materials. Each obi (kimono-sash belt made from Silk) or kimono are limited in the length. To create these clutch bags, we unstitch the kimono or obi back into one roll of silk fabric. From each obi and kimono we can only create 1 to 7 clutch bags and depending on which parts we cut, the patterns are slightly different. That makes our product the one and only special bag in the world, made just for you!

INTEGRATING TRADITION and the MODERN for beautiful women around the globe

We will recreate visible and non-visible forms of traditional arts to modern style. The designer looks into rich materials that are made by unique Japanese kimono weaving technique, and design evening bags which complement the evening dress of the modern women. Our evening bags are also perfect accessories for ladies’ formal wear.
Women all over the globe can touch and feel the beautiful Japanese art of silk weaving.

PHILOSOPHY

• We maintain the high quality of “made in Japan” products.
• We give rebirth to traditions by creating modern style products that fit into our current lifestyle.
• We work together with Japanese craftsmen and artisans who specialize in traditional arts.
• We respect and value the limited resources on Earth and do our best to upcycle kimono.
We make lasting and quality handbags that are designed and inspired by kimonos that have been inherited and used by multiple generations – from grandmother to mother, from mother to daughter. • We work together with people in Tohoku region.

WHO we work with

We work together with skilled handbag making craft-workers, ladies who embroider beads, craftsmen who make beautiful hand-made Japanese paper gift boxes in Fukushima, Iwate and Miyagi regions. People in Tohoku are known for their perseverance, for being taciturn, and for diligently achieving their goals.

BEADS EMBROIDERIES

The Beaded embroideries are hand-made by ladies in Otsuchi-cho, Iwate prefecture which was affected by the earthquake and Tsunami in March 2011. They help us by adding beautifully flourishing flower petals and by adding the shining tone on our handbags. We are very pleased to work together with these talented ladies. Working together with them gives us treasure to connect with the community and their living.

JAPANESE CRAFTMANSHIP and SPRIT

Japanese craftsmanship is well known for its high skill, sensitive presentation, practical usability and innovation.
Atelier Aoba works with the traditional craft artisans who are becoming very scarce in number. In the last few decades, there has been a drastic change in lifestyle in Japan. Today, Japanese people do not dress in kimono every day for practical reasons of modern life. However, kimono is worn on important occasions such as Adult Day, weddings, tea ceremonies and formal parties.
The tradition cannot stay alive if the styles do not match the daily life. The only way to keep the traditions alive is to constantly innovate and fearlessly develop products that incorporate the traditions, making sure that the people who use these products are happy with them in their daily life. During these changing traditions, Atelier Aoba will value the limited beautiful resources of woven textiles we have on Earth, and value the heritage of these beautiful resources for the next generations.

Product Card

In each evening bag, we include a product card to explain the story behind the creation of each bag. The product card explains the method of weaving of each textile, the meaning of the pattern, the explanation of the background color, and the explanation of the thread used. Please enjoy the story and culture behind the materials of your handbag along with its beautiful touch!