This useful and unique mini case is adorned with a label that has Japanese characters and an image of a sailing ship. The logo is the name of the maker, Kōbō (studio) Onomichi Hanpu (canvas), and the sailing ship commemorates Onomichi's history as a thriving port of call.
The cotton canvas is produced by the last remaining mill in Onomichi which has been in operation since 1939. The finished fabric is made into bags and other accessories by local women who work with Kōbō Onomichi Hanpu, a not-for-profit organization with a mission to revitalize the local community through the sale of locally sourced and made canvas products.
Specifications
Who Makes It
Kōbō Onomichi Hanpu was conceived in 1999 after a group of local businesswomen took a tour of the last remaining local canvas mill in Onomichi, a coastal town about 50 miles east of Hiroshima. Deeply moved by the sight of old-fashioned shuttle looms in action, they decided to make use of the textiles.
Starting with one sewing machine at the corner of a dry cleaning shop, it now operates a thriving retail store on the main shopping street of Onomichi.