About

bukuro offers genderless handcrafted leather purses that echo the simplicity of a brown paper bag with unparalleled sophistication. Kami bag is at the intersection of art and practicality by Japanese American artist Nico Gardner

The Brand

bukuro (袋): bag in Japanese.

We make genderless leather goods that blur the line between art object and everyday carry. Each piece starts with a question: What if we took this seriously?

Our debut collection answers that question with Kami—a brown paper grocery bag, handcrafted in leather and suede.

AAPI and LGBTQ+ owned. Designed in Chicago. Made to last.

Japanese American artist Nico Gardner, Creative Director and Founder of bukuro

The Founder

Nico Gardner started sewing bags at 10 years old on his mother's Japanese sewing machine (carefully rewired by his father for America). He sold them to friends, family, and anyone willing to take a chance on a kid with a vision.

Twenty years later, after earning an MFA in Fiber and Material Studies and spending a decade in the blue-chip art world, he launched bukuro.

Same passion. Better materials. Still handmade.

Newsletter

New drops. Occasional thoughts. No spam.