Italian Sophistication Meets Japanese Craftsmanship: Bag Brand 'MONTBOOK' Launches
Kaban Kobo Yamamoto officially launches 'MONTBOOK,' a new bag brand designed by Italian designer Giulio Iacchetti. The brand features minimalist designs using traditional techniques and will hold pop-up events.
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- 📰 Published: May 21, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 21, 2026 at 10:31
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## Overview
Kaban Kobo Yamamoto officially launches 'MONTBOOK,' a bag brand that combines sophisticated Italian design with Japanese craftsmanship. The designs are led by world-renowned designer Giulio Iacchetti, a leader in the Italian industrial design field.
The lineup, which now includes a new deerskin collection in addition to signature designs, will be showcased at limited-time POPUP EVENTS at Nihombashi Takashimaya and Nishinomiya Hankyu between May and June.
## Brand Roots
MONTBOOK is a brand that materializes the designs of Italian product designer Giulio Iacchetti through the expertise of Kaban Kobo Yamamoto, a school bag manufacturer with 75 years of history.
Giulio Iacchetti is a winner of the Compasso d'Oro, the highest award in Italian design, and his works are selected for the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.
## Representative Products
### BALTEA Collection
Shoulder bags crafted using the 'lasting' technique, which gathers leather wrinkles on the reverse side of a wooden mold and secures them with nails. Inspired by the equipment of Italian military police, the design is simple and sophisticated.
- Prices: ￥79,200 (incl. tax) / ￥69,300 (incl. tax)
### Tondo Collection
Meaning 'roundness' in Italian, the Tondo collection uses the 'wet-forming' technique, where leather is carefully molded along a wooden form over time.
- Prices: ￥59,400 (incl. tax) – ￥247,500 (incl. tax)
### Deerskin Collection (NEW)
A collection using supple deerskin, combined with cowhide leather molded via the 'wet-forming' technique at the base.
- Prices: ￥9,900 (incl. tax) – ￥99,000 (incl. tax)
## Artisan Techniques
'Wet-forming' and 'lasting' are 3D molding techniques that leverage the plasticity of vegetable-tanned leather. Because these techniques require advanced skills and significant time, very few bags currently incorporate them.
Kaban Kobo Yamamoto officially launches 'MONTBOOK,' a bag brand that combines sophisticated Italian design with Japanese craftsmanship. The designs are led by world-renowned designer Giulio Iacchetti, a leader in the Italian industrial design field.
The lineup, which now includes a new deerskin collection in addition to signature designs, will be showcased at limited-time POPUP EVENTS at Nihombashi Takashimaya and Nishinomiya Hankyu between May and June.
## Brand Roots
MONTBOOK is a brand that materializes the designs of Italian product designer Giulio Iacchetti through the expertise of Kaban Kobo Yamamoto, a school bag manufacturer with 75 years of history.
Giulio Iacchetti is a winner of the Compasso d'Oro, the highest award in Italian design, and his works are selected for the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.
## Representative Products
### BALTEA Collection
Shoulder bags crafted using the 'lasting' technique, which gathers leather wrinkles on the reverse side of a wooden mold and secures them with nails. Inspired by the equipment of Italian military police, the design is simple and sophisticated.
- Prices: ￥79,200 (incl. tax) / ￥69,300 (incl. tax)
### Tondo Collection
Meaning 'roundness' in Italian, the Tondo collection uses the 'wet-forming' technique, where leather is carefully molded along a wooden form over time.
- Prices: ￥59,400 (incl. tax) – ￥247,500 (incl. tax)
### Deerskin Collection (NEW)
A collection using supple deerskin, combined with cowhide leather molded via the 'wet-forming' technique at the base.
- Prices: ￥9,900 (incl. tax) – ￥99,000 (incl. tax)
## Artisan Techniques
'Wet-forming' and 'lasting' are 3D molding techniques that leverage the plasticity of vegetable-tanned leather. Because these techniques require advanced skills and significant time, very few bags currently incorporate them.
FAQ
What makes MONTBOOK products high quality?
They are crafted by a manufacturer with 75 years of history, using advanced traditional techniques like lasting and wet-forming originally used in shoemaking.
What kind of leather is used in MONTBOOK products?
Materials include durable cordovan, Italian Tuscan Bullgaro leather, and supple, high-quality deerskin.
What is the origin of the name MONTBOOK?
It symbolizes the fusion of Italian design and Japanese craftsmanship, representing the culmination of industrial design and artisan skills.