Japanese Accessories Brand PORTER Yoshida & Co. Takes London by Storm with SENSES Trunkshow
Get ready, London fashionistas! PORTER Yoshida & Co., the renowned Japanese accessories brand known for its premium craftsmanship and attention to detail, is making its way to Europe for the first time with its SENSES Trunkshow series. And where better to start than the trendy neighborhood of Notting Hill, at The Garbstore?
The SENSES installation at The Garbstore will give you an up-close and personal experience with PORTER’s latest collection, featuring their signature aGEL cushioning system. But it’s not just about sight and touch – the installation also incorporates smell through SHOEIDO fragrances, filling the air with delicate aromas filtered through scented omamori charms.
But that’s not all – PORTER is also releasing two exclusive bags at The Garbstore, along with free pins and carabiners. And for those looking for even more PORTER goodness, there will also be a capsule collection of co-branded printed crewnecks, t-shirts, and caps.
Hypebeast caught up with PORTER to get the inside scoop on their trip to London and the history behind their high-quality bags. This is the first time the SENSES series has been showcased outside of Japan, so we had to ask – why now?
“The SENSES series was launched in the spring of 2022 when Covid was still ongoing; it had become difficult for us to deliver our bags to customers as we had done in the past,” explains PORTER. “We held pop-ups in various locations across Japan, just as our founder, Kichizo Yoshida, originally did, delivering our new SENSES series directly to the areas where our customers live. At the pop-up, you can fully experience the SENSES line, such as checking the scent of the sachet and experiencing the functionality of the elevated padding used within the bag… by dropping an egg onto a sheet of theαGEL just 2cm thick. We are also finally ready to hold pop-ups with this complex and fascinating program overseas.”
And why did they choose London as their first stop? “Londoners are very accepting of new things and are very fashion forward,” says PORTER. “For that reason, we thought the new concept of SENSES would be a good match. We would like to expand from London to Europe and the US.”
The Garbstore is the only store in the UK that’s stocking every piece from the SENSES collection, making it the perfect partner for PORTER. “Garbstore has been our partner for many years, helping to promote the PORTER brand from London,” says PORTER. “We have collaborated in the past, making our partnership very special. We believe that Garbstore is the perfect partner to convey the appeal of the full SENSES series to our customers.”
With almost a century of history, we had to ask – what has changed for PORTER Yoshida & Co. since its early days, and what has remained the same? “Our consistent philosophy since the company’s founding has been ‘heart and soul in every stitch,'” says PORTER. “Above all, we are proud that our bags have been made in Japan and that everyone continues to be carefully produced by skilled craftsmen within our country. In this way, we have stayed true to our roots and maintained our commitment to quality and detail.”
