Bag in Japan
“Unidentified Organism”
Interview with Kotaro Tomita by Tristan Da Cunha
I’m a bit like a magpie when it comes to good design. Anything that looks well made or designed with an eye for detail then I am instantly drawn to it. This was the case last year when i happened upon an exciting new start up business based in Japan. As some of you reading this will know I am a professional DJ and I also love the great outdoors. I’m a bit of a boy scout at heart and love anything to do with bush craft and camping. That’s why when i saw this new hybrid bag i did a back flip. Finally there was something on the market that I could take on my adventures wether they were into the wilderness or into the concrete jungles to go and play records. I assure you, this is going to be my go to bag for the festival season as well, when you need to be light on your feet, stacked, packed & ready for action in all weather conditions and on all terrains.
The bags are made to order, made with the upmost care and built to last. Upon receiving mine I put it to work straight away and was thrilled with how beautifully crafted it was. I could tell that whoever was behind this design was highly skilled and decided that I needed to know more about the operation.
So what follows is a short interview with the brains behind my favourite new bag.
Introduce yourself …
My name is Kotaro Tomita. I am Japanese. I live in Saitama, a city next to Tokyo. I am a bag designer by profession, and I am also a DJ.
Where does the name Klipted come from ?
I switched the spelling of cryptid (unidentified organism) and named it KLIPTED.
The company I worked for had a rule that I was not allowed to have a second job. So the meaning of "unidentified organism" was perfect for me.
What were you doing before you started Klipted ?
I worked for the Japanese branch of a Paris-based company that made luxury bags and apparel. It is a well-known company that everyone in the world knows. I worked in a department responsible for the repair of vintage items. I worked as a leather worker for 15 years.
What inspired you to start making the bags ?
I wanted a bag for going to parties to DJ. The traditional boxy record bag didn't fit my lifestyle. So I decided to make my own. I wanted to ride my bike when I went to parties to DJ.
My hobbies are trekking, camping, digging for records at used record stores and DJ-ing. I’ve decided to create a bag that combines all of these elements in one bag. So we came up with the idea of merging a mountain climbing backpack with a record bag.
How long did it take you to develop the final design ?
The pandemic broke out around the world and the company I worked for had to temporarily shut down operations. In the meantime, several prototypes were made and the backpack was completed. The idea was complete in my head, so it was a process of bringing it closer to that image. I think it was completed three months after I came up with the idea.
How does it feel seeing so many people from all over the world buying the bags?
So far, we have sent backpacks to people in 13 countries. Most of them are countries I have never been to. I still feel strange. Making backpacks and sending them to people in different countries is a way for me to make a living. But for me, this activity is something more than a business. Through this activity, I made friends in many different countries.
People who ordered from me sometimes sent me things like records, re-edited track data, recorded DJmixes, and other things. All of them are special treasures for me. DJ Rise (Alien communications) and Francesco Del Garda for first discovering me and introducing me to the world. I am especially grateful to both of them. Without them, I would have never started my own business and would still be working for a company. And thank you Tristan Da Cunha for giving us this opportunity!
What are the plans for the future ? Any other products in the pipeline ?
I plan to launch new music-related products in the future. My ultimate goal is to become an outdoor gear brand, so I would like to launch such products in the future.
What advice would you give others who might want to set up a new business or brand ?
I think it's about working diligently every day for our goals. New ideas are not understood at first. However, you never know when someone will appreciate what you are doing. I think you just have to keep going.
It was not Japanese who first evaluated me. It was the overseas people who first evaluated me, and recently I finally started receiving orders from Japan. So you never know when something will happen.
CLOSING THOUGHTS …
What I love about this story is it’s about someone who already had a great job working for a huge company but something inside was driving him to take a leap of faith and follow his heart. Taking a gamble and stepping into uncertainty he took a chance to grow and develop something new and exciting. Through his personal needs and hobbies Kotaro created something that fit his busy intercity lifestyle and his adventures in nature. Cementing the saying that “necessity is the mother of all invention”. I have full faith in Klipted as a brand. Not only is the product of the highest quality but Kotaro is such a lovely humble person who's passion for music and his craft is immense. For example, when he makes a bag for someone, usually a DJ, he likes to listen to their mixes or music productions to catch their vibe and get a better understanding of who will be using his bag. It’s those personal touches that make these small companies and businesses worth every penny that you spend with them. I’m so happy that i bought one of Kotaro’s bags and can’t wait to see what other products he develops. If you love the great outdoors or if you are a vinyl junkie or both … this is for you.