Upcycled Japanese Obi Shoulder Purse ~ Handmade Bag with Vintage Japanese Kimono Textiles

🧵 The Process

See how this bag was made by watching the video on Madly Kimono Youtube Channel! 
👉 https://youtu.be/gCe5vMEzV7c

📖 The Story

This elegant small purse is a celebration of classic Japanese craftsmanship, reimagined for modern use. The body of the bag is crafted from a vintage fukuro obi featuring a shimmering silver and cream background adorned with intricate, colorful fan embroidery and silver wave motifs.

While many of my bags are designed for daily adventures, this piece was inspired by a desire for something a bit more refined. It’s a small, dressy purse that is perfect for special occasions, yet versatile enough to elevate a casual outfit.

🪭 Design Details

• The Fabric: A luxurious vintage silk with heavy embroidery. To give the delicate silk more structure, I’ve carefully interfaced the body and used a beautiful upcycled silk hakkake (kimono lining) for the interior.
• The Strap: An authentic obijime (silk cord) featuring gold on one side and a formal pattern on the other, picking up the rich gold tones in the fan motifs. The strap is adjustable—simply loosen and re-tie the knots to your preferred length.
• The Hardware: I chose warm gold-toned D-rings and hardware to complement the elegance of the silk.
• Closure: The bag is finished with a secure, heavy-duty gold snap closure at the top to keep your essentials safe.

👜 Specifications

• Dimensions: Roughly 12" length x 10" width x 1" depth (bag portion)
• Body: Vintage Silk Fukuro Obi (Silver/Cream with Fan Embroidery)
• Strap: Authentic Silk Obijime (Gold/Formal pattern)
  Interior: Upcycled silk lining with reinforced interfacing
• Origin: Hand-constructed in my studio using authentic materials sourced from Japan