Design, Ikigai & the Art of Carrying Life Well
Design, Ikigai & the Art of Carrying Life Well
Part One: Glen Taylor, Founder
When people ask me where the idea for our furoshiki bags came from, I usually tell them it wasn't just about creating another bag. It was about creating something with purpose.
I've always been fascinated by Japanese design philosophy. Not because it's fashionable, but because it has an honesty to it. Every line, every fold and every material has a reason for being there. Nothing is wasted. Nothing is added just for the sake of it.
That naturally led me to the idea of ikigai—the Japanese concept often described as "a reason for being." While everyone discovers their own ikigai differently, I think it encourages us to create things that genuinely improve everyday life.
For me, that became my approach to design.
Our furoshiki bags are inspired by a centuries-old Japanese wrapping tradition that celebrates versatility, sustainability and beauty. The original cloth could become a bag, a gift wrap, a carrier or a picnic cloth. It adapted to the moment rather than demanding you buy something new.
That philosophy resonates today more than ever.
We wanted to take that timeless thinking and create something for modern life—beautifully designed bags that are practical, adaptable and made to last. Products that people genuinely enjoy using every day, rather than replacing every season.
Good design isn't about following trends.
It's about solving problems elegantly.
If we've achieved anything, I hope it's creating products that quietly become part of people's everyday routines. That's where thoughtful design belongs.
Part Two: Jess Gosling, Creative Director
One of the things I love most about Japanese design is that it doesn't shout for attention.
It invites you to notice the details.
As Creative Director, I spend a lot of time thinking about colour, texture, proportion and how something feels in your hands. But those decisions always come back to one question:
"Will this make someone's day just a little bit better?"
The beauty of the furoshiki tradition is its simplicity. A single idea has evolved over hundreds of years because it simply works. There's something incredibly inspiring about designing with that mindset.
I love creating collections that balance contemporary colour with timeless function. Whether it's choosing fabrics, refining details or developing new combinations, the goal is always the same: to make products people love living with.
For me, creativity isn't about making something complicated.
It's about making something meaningful.
That feels very close to the spirit of ikigai—finding joy and purpose through the things we create and the way they connect with other people.
And that's why events like Hyper Japan are so special.
Online, we see orders and messages.
In person, we meet the people carrying our bags, hear their stories and see how they've made them part of their lives. Those conversations inspire every new collection.
In just two weeks, we'll be at Hyper Japan, and we honestly can't wait.
If you're coming along, please stop by and say hello. We'd love to show you our latest designs, chat about Japanese craftsmanship, talk all things furoshiki—and most importantly, meet the wonderful community that continues to inspire everything we create.
See you there!