A Bag To Carry Your Watermelon To Quench Your Thirst For The Whimsy

By Mikelle Leow, 02 Jul 2021

Image via Tsuchiya Bag Factory

Tsuchiya Bag Factory, the same Japanese firm that designed a handbag to tote around a snowman, has created an equally playful accessory for the summer. It’s a ‘Watermelon Bag’—because, sometimes, a bottle of juice ain’t enough.

The spherical carrier was shown off for the first time on social media last year, though it wasn’t for sale. However, the curvaceous Watermelon Bag has since been reinforced for actual use by the public, and will soon be on sale in a limited count of just 21 bags, in reference to the year 2021.

Crafted out of 60 parts, the Watermelon Bag is thoughtfully shaped to trace the contours of a real watermelon while keeping its seams concealed. A cutout at the top allows the fruit to coyly peek out, whereas the leather on the base is meticulously laminated to maintain a perfect bowl-shaped silhouette.

Its Vachetta milled leather exterior gives the bag durability and flexibility, while boasting a texture that ripens beautifully and turns “glossy” with age. A smooth leather interior keeps dirt and scratches discreet.

To properly accommodate a watermelon, the mouth of the bag is kept narrow, with eight button closures creating a jacket, to keep the melon secure and snug. A cowhide handle fits comfortably in the palm, allowing the user to carry the fruit around with one hand without hurting their wrist.

The bag is also size-inclusive, being able to hold watermelons of sizes “L to 2L,” whatever that means.

The designer says the hope was to design a bag that would make others smile, and by the looks of it, it’s really hard not to.

When it rolls into Tsuchiya Bag Factory’s physical stores on July 9 and its online store on July 15, the limited-edition Watermelon Bag will set fruit lovers back JP¥110,000 (US$988). Given that real watermelons in Japan can go up to US$6,000, that’s probably not too shocking.