Mike says he finds it fascinating that the way people carry things hasn't changed much between Egypt 150 years ago and modern-day Tokyo, as can be seen in the two photos below. He has been working on a personal project called "Carrying Research" for the past 10 years. Looking into his mind, through the documents, drawings, old bags and other materials he has collected, we can see the true essence of "carrying."
BIG BAGS
With a little ingenuity, even large bags can be carried easily. By tying two black plastic bags together and balancing them on either side of the body, you can leave both hands free to light a cigarette. This is a Mexican peddler from the 1880s. The basket is angled to make it easier to carry on the back. The third photo shows a man carrying a basket of beans. The saddle attached to the man's back is astonishing.
NEWSPAPER BAG
This 1950s newspaper bag was purchased by Mike at a flea market in Massachusetts. Its functional design allows it to fit snugly, as if it were a part of your body, when you put a newspaper inside and hang it over your shoulder. It's no wonder that newspaper boys could easily throw newspapers into their yards with one hand while riding their bicycles.
BACK PACK FRAMES
Researching the history of "carrying" and looking at bags again, he discovered that the basis of their shape is the close relationship between the structure of the human body and the act of carrying something. Mike says this becomes clear when wearing a wooden carrier or an aluminum backpack frame. Both are as strong as human bones and are made as if they were an extension of the body.
PARTS of BAG
He dismantles old bags and keeps only the parts he likes, like fossilized animal bones. The first photo shows parts of a British suitcase from the 1950s. The handle, lock, and rivets on the bottom of the bag. The second photo shows the clasp closure of a Japanese travel bag from the 1960s. Mike says, "By dismantling something, you can see the internal structure of the bag."
MAIL BAGS
The bags found in Japanese mailboxes are different colors for regular mail (blue) and express mail (orange). Don't leave any important letters behind! The bags also have handles on the bottom, and the clasp closure is functional, allowing you to open it upside down to check the contents. They're also made of a special fabric that prevents static electricity.
SUPERMARKET BAGS
Observe the fingers of people holding supermarket bags. When holding a bag, if you put all your fingers inside, it actually hurts. It seems that there is a way of holding the finger that feels most comfortable for each person. And so, the Handy Handle was invented. It's a shame that you have to carry it first in order to carry it.
BRIDGE BAGS
At Postalco, we focused on the fact that a bridge's structure "distributes weight" and applied that strength and balance to our bags. This is because the two have something in common in that they are used for "carrying things." Mike's illustration shows the mechanics of a bag, which is like a bridge girder. If the weight is not concentrated in one place, a strong bag that is not likely to break can be made even with thin fabric. The third image is a bag that was cut open in order to show the cross section of the bag.
The fourth image shows, from the left, the latest release in the Bridge Bag series, a deerskin tote bag supported by a strap. The Dopp Kit has a stiff strap for easy portability. There is also a shoulder bag type with high storage capacity.
All about carrying
All about carrying 1
Research has shown that there are patterns in the way we hold newspapers, which we do unconsciously on a daily basis. By paying attention to the hands of people walking down the street, we discovered that some people hold their newspapers flat, some hold them at the end with the curled-up edges, some hold them in the middle, and some use their fingers as a bookmark.
All about carrying 2
I spotted an old man with a sushi-rolling mat attached to the back of his backpack. Mike quickly tried to imitate him and made this. It allows air to flow through your back, which is surprisingly comfortable. With just a little ingenuity, carrying something becomes much easier.
