![Work and Tote Bags : A Style for Everyone [Part 1]](http://ren-tokyo.com/cdn/shop/articles/ban-241125-tote1_1100x.webp?v=1761272676)
Work and Tote Bags : A Style for Everyone
- Part 1 -
Work styles and lifestyles are no longer confined by conventions or limitations. Perhaps it’s time to redefine what a “work bag” truly means.
So, we asked ten people — all different in age, gender, and profession — how they choose their bags for work.
Alongside REN’s leather totes, which we consider the “next generation of work bags.”
01 Nao Nagatsuka / Photographer & Writer
02 Ryuichiro Yamaki / Office Worker
"I’m the type who likes to take my time — I usually spend a few years thinking it over.” (Mr. Yamaki)
"I’m the type who buys it right away if I fall in love at first sight.” (Ms. Nagatsuka)
They’re a married couple with opposite personalities and mindsets, yet they share a similar calm energy. Mr. Yamaki, who works in sales at a food company, is the cautious type — he can spend several years deciding on the right work bag. “I want to change materials as I get older, like moving through stages in a board game. Right now I use nylon, but someday I’d like to switch to leather,” he says. Meanwhile, Ms. Nagatsuka, a freelance photographer and writer, is the type who buys something the moment she falls in love with it. “When I laid out the bags I’ve bought recently, I realized they’re all solid-color totes. Since I usually wear rather plain styles, like black, for work, I tend to choose bright, vivid colors that lift my mood.”
▲Nao, an avid reader, always carries a book in her bag — along with her camera and a water bottle, all of which tend to be quite heavy. “That’s why lightness is so important to me. And since I like to grab my phone quickly, an inside pocket is a must,” she says.
03 Aya Tonosaki / Shop Manager
Photographer
Something that can handle rough, everyday use.
Leather is perfectly fine — as long as you’re not afraid of a few scratches.”
“I’ve actually always loved bags, and I admire people who match them with their outfits,” says Aya Tonosaki. “But with my busy everyday life, I often end up using the same one without even realizing it. That’s why I go for something that can handle rough, everyday use. At the same time, eco bags tend to look a bit too casual, so I prefer something that still looks presentable. Leather is perfectly fine — as long as you’re not afraid of a few scratches. And I’m definitely not the afraid type.”
▲She doesn’t carry a makeup pouch — just a lip balm and lipstick tossed into the inner pocket. “I don’t really like to look too put-together,” she says. “When I wear pumps, for example, I’ll pair them with sweatpants or something relaxed — I like to keep a bit of effortless balance in my style.”
04 Ryo Hashimoto / 「Seven Years Coffee」
Roaster & Barista
I want to refine my sensibility and character — even through a single cup of coffee.
That’s why I choose to surround myself with quality things.
“As I often remind myself, the way you brew and craft the flavor of coffee reflects your own sensibility and character,” says Ryo Hashimoto. His sense of aesthetics extends beyond coffee. “For example, what you wear is also a form of self-expression. When you choose quality pieces, you naturally carry yourself with a certain presence. And when something is well-made and beautifully designed, it’s okay if it gets a little dirty or scratched. I think the beauty lies in that balance — not too polished, not too worn.”
▲He’s been using his L.L.Bean canvas bag every day for the past three years. Hanging from the handle is a necklace — a charming little detail. “One day, after leaving the house, something just didn’t feel right,” he says with a laugh. “So I took it off and hooked it here, and it’s stayed ever since.”
05 Yuriko Tanii / Office Worker
I want a bag spacious enough to hold a little room — for a lighthearted mind.
Yuriko Tanii says she used to be drawn to the traditional, stately designs of Britain and France. She often chose classic-style bags that matched her formal work attire. But her preferences — and her style — have recently become softer and lighter. “I’ve started taking on work I had no experience in, like accounting support and writing,” she explains. “Maybe this shift in mindset is also reflected in the things I choose.”
▲She enjoys stopping by a café for tea on her way to and from work. To make the most of that time, she carries her magazines, books, and laptop divided between two bags. “The Document Tote feels secure on my shoulder — it doesn’t slip, even when I’m on the train,” she says.
