In 2025, HERGOPOCH, celebrating its 20th anniversary, announces a groundbreaking collaboration that pioneers a new frontier in sustainable fashion. The partner: automotive giant Toyota. What kind of fashion items will emerge from this partnership?

In recent years, environmental awareness has continued to grow across industries and companies as we move towards a sustainable society. The fashion and automotive industries, in particular, have implemented initiatives to reduce waste in production processes and reuse discarded materials. Among these efforts, the collaboration between HERGOPOCH and Toyota Upcycle has produced a new era of sustainable items, meticulously crafted with a focus on aesthetics and design.

Launched in 2005, HERGOPOCH is a brand line developed by Kiyomoto Bag Manufacturing. Committed to Made in Japan quality, it has garnered support for its reliable craftsmanship and superior quality. Its products, characterized by simple, minimalist forms with no wasted elements, are appealing for their functional beauty, making them suitable for any occasion, whether professional or casual.

Born from HERGOPOCH's 20th anniversary, this is a "forward-thinking" driving bag. This product transcends the category of mere eco-friendly goods, resulting in a special item that combines high design quality with functionality.

Toyota's "TOYOTA UPCYCLE" project is dedicated to the mission of breathing new life into waste materials inevitably generated during the car manufacturing process, under the theme "From 'Mottainai' to 'Motto ii' (Better)."

Particularly noteworthy is the material used. Crafted by skillfully joining offcuts from the seats of iconic cars like the Lexus, Land Cruiser, and Crown, the material exudes a sense of luxury and unique beauty, defying its origin as waste. Furthermore, for the durable straps and parts, pit-tanned cowhide, a rare type in Japan, has been adopted. Only a few tanneries in Japan possess pit vats, making leather produced by this method exceptionally precious.

This tanning process, involving prolonged immersion in pit vats, allows the leather to be cured without damaging its fibers. Compared to conventional drum tanning, it requires significantly more time and effort, but results in leather with both superior texture and exceptional durability.

In terms of functionality, the detachable strap allows for three distinct ways of carrying: as a clutch bag, a shoulder bag, or a handbag. It's designed to hold a bifold wallet and smartphone, adding a sophisticated touch to your weekend outings and drives around town.

The zipper extends to the gussets, ensuring smooth opening and closing with excellent visibility. An interior zippered pocket allows for organized storage of small items.

The items are meticulously sewn in factories across Japan, primarily in Fukushima Prefecture. The craftsmanship of experienced artisans ensures the creation of top-quality bags. This initiative also contributes to the revitalization of Japan's domestic bag and leather industries, with some products supporting the Furusato Nozei (hometown tax donation) program in Fudōmachi, Fukushima Prefecture.

This collaboration demonstrates the synergistic effect of sustainability and aesthetic sensibility. While maintaining environmental consideration, this product achieves design quality, functionality, and, most importantly, a playful spirit that excites the user. It evolves beyond mere environmental impact reduction into a next-generation sustainable item incorporating a sense of fun.

As sustainable fashion enters a new phase, perhaps such creative approaches will ripple through to more brands.