REN | Japan Leather Guide(ジャパンレザーガイド)

Products: REN

Products: REN

REN:A "wrapping bag" where you cuddle casually without being conscious of holding it.

RENA "wrapping bag" where you cuddle casually without being conscious of holding it.

One word for a REN bag would be "a bag to wrap around."
From the beginning, they snuggle gently along the body, making you feel as if you were wearing a bag. It can be said that it embodies the brand concept of "Don't make them aware that they have it, don't claim to exist." This is made possible by the pigskin that has become a byword for REN. It is an original made with raw leather secured in Japan and finished with tanners in Tokyo. When he founded the brand around 2005, pigskin was a sideshow used in the lining of shoes and bags, he said. At that time, cowhide was highly valued for its beautiful surface texture with no scratches or unevenness of color and for its quality at a glance. Few brands adopted pigskin as the main material, hence the face of the bag. It is true that there are many color irregularities, scratches and discoloration. But Len took it as a personality, focusing more on the advantages of pigskin: lightness, suppleness, density and toughness. In addition, the fact that it was cheaper than cowhide made it possible to offer a bag at a reasonable price that made sense to them was another factor that led them to adopt pigskin.

Like humans, animals have different skin conditions for different individuals. You can even out surface scratches and wrinkles as if you were applying makeup, but REN dares to use plain leather. This is a finish that uses little coloring, finishing, or other chemicals after dyeing, and is infinitely close to Suppin's leather condition. That's why you can fully appreciate the natural texture and personality of leather, which spices up the simple design and gives it an exquisite presence.

For what it's worth, REN handles non-pig leather, such as cow, sheep, and buffalo, that takes advantage of its charm and personality to create a natural texture. In addition, the colors are unique and evoke the hue of watercolors. Again, the color will change depending on the season and the weather condition of the leather, so the color will be slightly different each time. In other words, a pigskin is a one-of-a-kind object that doesn't have the same texture or color.

Part of the appeal of REN's bags is that they are light and easy to carry. The pigskin is used, of course, partly because the construction is as simple as it looks without the fittings and lining. The hardware can be a design accent, but the more you incorporate it, the heavier it gets. The same goes for the lining. In the case of the lining, there is an added benefit of omitting it. The idea is that the structure will be simpler and easier to repair if something happens.
When loading and unloading, one can be concerned about the fluff caused by friction, but pigskin has a high density of fibers, so you don't have to worry about that. Interior storage, such as an inside pocket, is also minimal. Simpler construction results in lighter weight and even lower prices.

Pig leather that had been a sideshow until now, but found value by REN. In order to enjoy its charm directly, it has been reduced to a simple design that has been stripped down to the limit. There's a lot of talk about diversity these days. It doesn't matter if there are scratches or uneven colors, it's not a flaw but a personality, and it's good to have leather with different expressions.
In other words, REN seems to suggest a diversity of leather. And the bag, which can be taken in with the feeling of dressing in clothes, gently nestles into the life of the person who has it, though it is understated.

A soft, feminine leather tote with special pigskin and color.

REN's signature tote bag, which has been made since the brand was launched with a series of detailed updates. The original pigskin is just so light, and yet so dense that it's thin yet strong enough to be used as a daily commodity. The exquisite pink beige with its soft color is combined with pigskin for a light look.
The interior has a simple design with only one pocket, and the buyer is gracefully left to decide how to use it. Even though it's made of all leather, you can roll it up into a small ball without worrying about losing its shape, so it's a good idea to carry it around as a sub bag.


REN Lunch Bag M/Pigskin Harry

Materials
pigskin
Price
(tax included)
¥18,700