Legendary Japanese luggage brand PORTER - Yoshida & Co. was founded in 1935 by Kichizo Yoshida. Inspired by his experience of The Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 to create “a bag that fits to the owner as time passes and becomes a regular part of their lives,” Yoshida opened Yoshida Kaban Seisakujo in Kandasuda-cho, Tokyo, which, in 1951, was reformed as Yoshida & Co. and relocated to Higashi-Kanda, where the current head office stands. In 1962, Yoshida & Co. introduced its first private label, PORTER, named after hotel luggage handlers due to their proximity and familiarity with bags. In 1983, PORTER debuted its TANKER model inspired by the U.S. Air Force’s MA-1 flight jacket, while made from an original material; the bag didn’t sell well initially due its military aesthetic, but has since become a cult model, with PORTER offering over 100 styles, including collaborations. In 2010, PORTER-Yoshida & Co. celebrated its 75th anniversary and the brand continues to operate by its founder’s slogan “Heart and soul into every stitch,” producing all of its highly functional luggage and accessories in Japan.