Founded in 1962, Porter-Yoshida serves as the flagship brand under Yoshida & Co. Drawing inspiration from hotel porters who handled luggage, the brand's early marketing creatively embraced this motif. Porter remains dedicated to crafting premium luggage with their flagship Tanker series, constructed from resilient nylon reminiscent of US Airforce MA-1 jackets, features a distinctive lining of vibrant orange nylon taffeta. Meanwhile, the 2Way Flex series, utilizing nylon ripstop, offers packable convenience. Each design is meticulously conceived, ensuring optimal functionality for its intended use.
History Behind Porter & Yoshida
Kichizo Yoshida embarked on his journey as a bag craftsman in Tokyo in 1918. The pivotal moment came during the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, when the city lay in ruins. In the urgency to evacuate, he hastily bundled his tools and prized possessions, securing them with a rope for practical transport. This incident sparked a principle that still resonates at Yoshida & Co: "A bag should primarily serve as a tool for carrying goods."
By 1935, Yoshida had founded his accessories business, initially known as Yoshida Kaban Seisakujo, later rebranded as Yoshida & Co. The company marked a significant milestone in 1953 with the launch of the Elegant Bag. This ground-breaking design of it's time featured an adjustable zippered gusset, enabling the bag's width to be modified, catering to the spatial constraints of modern Tokyo living.
In 1935, Kichizo Yoshida established Yoshida & Co., embodying a steadfast dedication to Japanese craftsmanship. The ethos of "Heart and Soul in every Stitch" epitomizes the company's unwavering pursuit of excellence throughout the manufacturing process, alongside its steadfast support for individual artisans.
As a craftsman himself, Kichizo Yoshida believed in infusing every stitch with the maker's essence, thereby not only ensuring superior quality but also endowing each finished piece with a sense of soul. While many brands may opt for cheaper overseas production or large-scale factories to meet demand, Yoshida & Co. remains faithful to its late founder's original vision, collaborating with over 80 individual factories and studios to create bags in genuine partnership.
How are Porter & Yoshida bags made?
In 1983, Porter drew inspiration from the MA-1 flight jackets crafted for the U.S. military. This influence spurred the development of their unique three-layer nylon fabric, characterized by its protective qualities, durability, and aesthetic appeal. This innovation allowed Porter to realize the vision set forth by Yoshida & Co., aligning with their original mission for the brand, with this same robust nylon fabric the backbone of their collections to this day.
Inspired by the iconic U.S. Air Force 'Rescue Orange' lining found in pilot bomber jackets, the famous Tanker collection pays homage to its legacy. In dire situations, stranded pilots would invert their jackets, revealing the vibrant orange lining, to enhance visibility during emergency landings, ensuring they were easily spotted from above. This orange lining remains prominent in the Porter Tanker series today across a range of clothing & of course their Tanker bag series.
Check out the latest arrivals & restocks from Porter-Yoshida & Co. below, available online & in-store now at Stuarts London.
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