Porter Yoshida Uses Genuine Japanese Space Fabric in Its Utilitarian ‘Bounce’ EDC Bags

After a surprising hiatus, the beloved brand is back with a new collection hinging on literal spacefaring material tech.

Black Porter backpack with mesh panel, adjustable straps, and front buckle closures on a beige background.Porter Yoshida

For the past 14 months, Porter Yoshida & Co, the beloved Japanese EDC and travel bag purveyor, has been oddly quiet.

Now we’ve found out at least one of the reasons why: the outfit has been working on an impressive new collection.

Called Porter Yoshida Bounce, this set of five bags was built on literal space-age technology. And soon, it can be yours.

Black nylon backpack with mesh front panel, adjustable straps, and "Porter Tokyo Japan" label.
The largest piece in the collection is a mountaineering-inspired flip-top backpack.
Porter Yoshida

Spacefaring fabric

The brand’s first new launch in over a year is certainly one worth waiting for, and that’s largely thanks to the material the collection is built upon. Called “Triaxial Woven Fabric,” this material comes directly from Japan’s space program.

In fact, this very fabric was used in the Hayabusa space probe, developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency to travel to a near-Earth asteroid, collect material samples and return to our home planet.

If there’s anything to know about spacefaring tech and materials, it’s that compromise is never an option. As such, this fabric is, in a word, impressive.

Close-up of black and white woven fabric with a diamond pattern on a dark background.
The collection hinges on a “Triaxial Woven Fabric” that utilizes a three-directional weave to increase tensile strength beyond that of normal fabric.
Porter Yoshida

Made from nylon, it has a three-directional weave, as opposed to traditional nylon’s dual-directional weave, meaning the threads intersect from three directions at once.

That increases the fabric’s tensile strength (even more so than classic nylon’s, which is naturally uniform in every direction) helping prevent it from losing its shape.

With that in mind, “Bounce” appears to refer to the fabric’s uncanny ability to “bounce back” from stress and deformation.

Two black messenger bags with adjustable shoulder straps and mesh front pockets on a beige background.
Other bags in the collection include a cinching tote (not pictured), a messenger bag (left) and a shoulder bag (right).
Porter Yoshida

Always bet on black

The Bounce collection includes five different bags, and fans of the brand will surely recognize some of them. For instance, one of the bags is a perennial classic for Porter Yoshida & Co, the Helmet Bag.

On the larger end of the spectrum, second only to the helmet bag in size and price, is a mountaineering-inspired flip-top backpack. There’s also a messenger bag, a shoulder bag (like a slightly smaller messenger bag) and a drawstring tote.

Rows of cylindrical carbon fiber tubes with metal ends and red rims stacked vertically.
This specially designed and engineered fabric was used in Japan’s Hayabusa space probe project.
Porter Yoshida

It’s important to note that the triaxial fabric does not make up the whole of these bags, but rather serves as an overlay reinforcement. The base bags are still crafted from classic, traditional nylon twill, and the liners are nylon taffeta.

Furthermore, they’re only available in one colorway: black. Luckily, that’s a classic look and the texture of the triaxial fabric helps add a lot of depth and character to these bags.

Is this a peek into the brand’s future endeavors? Should we expect to see more bold innovation going forward? Only time will tell.

Black nylon messenger bag with two front flap pockets featuring mesh details and metal clasps.
A helmet bag, a staple of Porter Yoshida’s catalog, is included in the collection, as well.
Porter Yoshida

Availability and pricing

The Porter Yoshida Bounce collection drops soon, with the five bags in the collection priced between ¥66,000 and ¥137,500 (approximately $418 and $872).

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