Simple elegance, strength and versatility with selvedge. MARUYOSHI CO., LTD.

Riyo Midojima created what is now selvedge. 10 years ago when she rose from a craftsperson of sample items to become chief designer for her own line of women's bags. She'd begun her career studying design in Japan, but it was while living in the UK for 2 years that Midojima was inspired by vintage leather bags.

She returned to Japan and worked in the sample studio of the company Maruyoshi Bags, a firm with 50 years of history producing men's and women's bags of all kinds, from casual and sport to schoolbags. Midojima had worked at all stages of production from design to manufacture when she decided to focus on creating elegant handbags for female professionals. The selvedge. label, which is the most successful bag brand at Maruyoshi, was born.

Midojima's target is to reduce stress in the lives of stylish and independent working women. selvedge. handbags are elegant, light and soft. Double-stitched handles make them sturdy-more than a match for a tough work day. Most women have felt the biting of a bag's handles into their shoulder; Midojima concentrated on refining the shape and edges of handles, ensuring selvedge. bags are comfortable to carry and use.

The designer is also intent on working with quality Japanese materials. She uses leather from the city of Himeji and brass buckle fittings from Tochigi Prefecture, while fabrics are made in the Kansai area, among other regions. Production, too, is entirely domestic. Though it might be cheaper and faster to make bags overseas, selvedge.'s pride in excellence and detail means all bags are made in Japan.