A Legendary Japanese Brand Gives Its Fan-Favorite Hardcore EDC Bags the Stealth Treatment

For 90 years now, Yoshida & Co. (the brand behind the beloved Porter line) has been a top name in Japanese bagmaking. And this has been a huge year of celebratory releases in honor of the huge milestone.

The brand has even expanded into apparel and watchmaking (via a recent G-Shock collab) to mark its septuagenarian status.

The latest in these ongoing drops is the Yoshida & Co. 90th Anniversary Project 011 “Ride Black,” which gives its fan-favorite Potr Ride bag lineup a special, stealthy reimagining.

Yoshida & Co.

Always bet on black

These bags, as mentioned, are based on Yoshida & Co’s Potr Ride lineup. The full collection spans six different bags — seven, if you count the one bag that comes in two sizes.

They include a backpack — the anchor product — a messenger bag, two totes (the same bag in two sizes), a waist bag (also known as a crossbody or sling bag), a shoulder bag and a roll bag. And while they vary significantly in size and format, they share some elements that tie them together.

Yoshida & Co.

For instance, all the bags are built from a combination of Cordura ballistic nylon (bottom), nylon twill (upper) and have a nylon ripstop lining. The exterior also has PVC and polyurethane coatings and the lining is urethane-coated. Those coatings add some extra durability and a bunch of weather-resistance, making these bags formidable for commuting (especially since nylon is already naturally weather- and abrasion-resistant).

Another connecting tether, specific to this collection, is the colorway. All seven of the bags are done in a limited-edition black colorway (other versions of the Ride lineup have been blue and green). The black is exclusive to this 90th anniversary set, which is also denoted by anniversary labeling hidden inside each bag.

Yoshida & Co.

Hardcore commuter

Even casual observers will notice that the black exteriors are not all these bags have in common. They also have a few industrial-looking elements that add some stylistic flair, but they also serve useful purposes.

The most obvious is probably the chain tether present on all the bags. This removable tether is made from genuine racing bicycle chain, meaning it is flexible and strong. It has a small clip on one end and a larger carabiner on the other, allowing users to attach other pieces of gear (like wallets, keys, and so on), and it can be used with the bags or separate from them.

Yoshida & Co.

The bags also have their own array of D-ring tether points, to which the chains are attached. Like the chain itself, these tether points can also be used for other gear attachments. The bags also have compression straps, which help keep them safe and secure in transit.

Lastly, an element that perhaps best illustrates their purpose as commuter EDC bags (ideal for cycling, running or just city walking) is the removable reflective band. Like the slap bracelets of the ’90s, this strap can be wrapped around a wrist, ankle or (as it comes) a bag strap to add a hi-vis element to either the bag or its user, offering additional safety in low-light situations.

Yoshida & Co.

Pricing and availability

Launching Friday, January 30, the Yoshida & Co. Potr 90th Anniversary Project 011 “Ride Black” collection will be available at all Porter stores in Japan, select shops in Korea and China and on the brand’s site. Pricing ranges from ¥39,600 (approximately $258) to ¥78,100 (approximately $508).

Yoshida & Co.

Yoshida & Co. Potr 90th Anniversary Project 011 “Ride Black”

• Starts at $258

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