One Piece: The Multifunctional Bag Inspired by Color-Stripe Canvas

Transforming Ugly into Trendy

The One Piece bag is fully inspired by color-stripe canvas, a material that can be ubiquitously seen in the market, stores, and temporary setups in Taiwan. Previously treated as ugly and old-school, this design turns the much undervalued product into a trendy and functional fashion accessory that perfectly fits the lifestyle of creative professionals. Whether in the form of a tote, messenger bag, handbag, or sports bag, each angle and functional dimension of the design showcases its own neat aesthetics.

The color-stripe canvas used in the One Piece bag is frequently seen in Taiwanese daily urban surroundings, making up a large portion of the cityscape, including street vendors and outdoor catering. The superior wear-resistance of this material ensures that the bag is more durable than cotton canvas goods. However, this also presents a challenge in terms of craftsmanship and tailoring skills. Only sewing tables used for leather goods can achieve the high fashion details and quality that the One Piece bag aims for.

The One Piece bag measures W46.5cm x H44cm and is made from PVC. Its unique design allows users to transform it into a tote model, messenger model, or bike model, making it suitable for various occasions and activities. It perfectly fits the intense and constant shifts in and out of urban settings that users experience.

The project to create the One Piece bag started in August 2015 and was completed in December 2016 in Taiwan. It was exhibited at Fashion Source in Shenzhen in October 2017 and received the prestigious Golden Pin Design Award in 2017. The design team, led by Creative Director Huang Chin-Hua, also included designers Wu Hong-Sheng and Huang Yu-Wen, animator Leung Tsz-Ching, and user analysis and marketing experts Sung Yi-Chen and Lee Chun-Chieh.

The One Piece bag is the result of extensive research and a desire to fulfill the need for a fashion accessory that serves users' intense and constant shifts in and out of various urban settings. The team searched for a material that could best represent Taiwan's local urban impression while resonating with the functional needs and taste of foreign customers. The water-proof PVC with innate colorful stripes perfectly balances these seemingly opposite needs.

During the prototyping process, the team faced challenges in demanding industrial-use material to be processed to the same high standard as easily manipulated materials used in high fashion accessories. Regular fabric sewing machines were not suitable due to the thickness and slipperiness of the canvas. The craftsmanship and technical aspects of the design required a selective process to find the right manufacturer to partner with. Additionally, the design principle of "One Piece Without Additional Cuts," influenced by the founder's architectural background, posed further challenges in creating a multi-functional design that followed the layout of the innate stripes on the material.

The One Piece bag is a testament to the transformation of color-stripe canvas from an undervalued material into a trendy and functional fashion accessory. Its unique aesthetics and versatility make it a perfect fit for creative professionals and individuals seeking a chic and functional accessory for their daily activities. With its innovative design and attention to detail, the One Piece bag has received recognition in the form of the Iron A' Design Award in 2018, showcasing its well-designed, practical, and innovative qualities.