Here are the differences between the old and new HushTug tote bags
Hello!
This is Magari from HushTug.
Recently, we've been receiving inquiries from customers asking, "What is the difference between the old tote bag model and the one currently on sale?"
So, this time, we'd like to introduce the differences between HushTug's old tote bag model and the new tote bag model.
The content discussed in this article is also available on YouTube, so please check that out as well.
Reasons for updating to the new tote bag
Originally, HushTug had its own workshop in Mongolia and produced items there, but one major reason for the change was to stop production there and switch to Made in Japan production.
Another significant difference is that the old model was produced in Mongolia using Mongolian leather, while the new model is produced in Japan using Himeji leather from Japan.
We have introduced Himeji leather in a previous article, so if you are interested, please check out that article as well.
*Click the image to navigate.
Three changes to the exterior
First, let's introduce the changes made to the exterior of the bag.
There are three changes:
- The handle is not double-stitched
- The internal core material has changed from fabric-like to a non-woven mask-like material
- The core material at the bottom of the bag has been changed to a harder material
Now, let's explain each point in order.
The handle is not double-stitched
The most significant change in the exterior is that the handle is not double-stitched.
The reason the new model isn't double-stitched is that it incorporates a reinforcement agent inside, eliminating the need for double-stitching.
Furthermore, since core material is inserted inside, the reinforcement is much stronger, which is a major difference.
On the old model, the part with stitching at the bottom originally had no stitching, but due to weak reinforcement, stitching was reluctantly added to prevent damage.
When we switched to Japanese production, we discovered that by adding a core material inside, we could make it sturdy without external stitching. So, the new model uses internal reinforcement to cover this.
The internal core material has changed from fabric-like to a non-woven mask-like material
In fact, some customers have told us that when comparing the old model tote bag made with Mongolian leather and the current model tote bag, the new model has a more luxurious feel.
Also, many customers found the old model to be a bit stiff.
The reason for this is that the old model used a core material similar to fabric, while the new model uses a non-woven fabric-like core material.
As a result, while maintaining a sturdy, self-supporting appearance, it allows the natural texture of the leather to be utilized, resulting in a slightly softer feel.
The core material at the bottom of the bag has been changed to a harder material
The last change in the exterior is the bottom part.
Although it's hard to tell without actually touching it, the new model has a harder bottom than the old model.
The new model incorporates a harder core material that is resistant to bending.
This change has brought about two main improvements. Firstly, it makes the bag more self-standing.
Secondly, when items are placed inside, the bottom part is less likely to bulge.
As bags naturally soften with use, they tend to deform. By using a harder core material, we prevent bulging.
Six changes in the internal structure
Next, let's introduce the changes made to the internal structure of the bag.
There are six changes in the internal structure:
- No facing leather applied
- Zipper pull design changed
- Lining color brightened
- Logo placement changed
- Zipper pocket size increased
- Lining stitching method changed
No facing leather applied
The part near the zipper of the bag is called facing leather. In the old model, this part was attached to the bag, but in the new model, it is not.
First, what is the difference between being attached and not being attached?
When it's attached, the range of motion for the zipper becomes narrower.
This narrowness made it harder to close and put stress on the zipper, and we received some inquiries about zippers breaking.
Therefore, we changed the design to not attach it, so as not to put stress on the zipper.
Also, by changing to a design without attachment, the range of motion is much wider, making it easier to close.
Zipper pull design changed
Secondly, the design of the zipper pull has changed.
The new model has a sword-tip design, giving it a more masculine feel than the old model.
All our current bags are unified with this design.
Lining color brightened
Thirdly, the color of the lining has been changed to a brighter shade.
In the old model, we used a dark lining, but we received feedback from customers that "the dark lining made visibility poor, and black items were a bit hard to see."
Therefore, the new model uses a brighter beige color.
Logo placement changed
Fourth, we changed the position of the logo.
We also matched the logo color to gold, in line with the lining color and zipper color.
Zipper pocket size increased
Fifth, we have increased the size of the zipper pocket.
While a long wallet barely fit into the old model's zipper pocket, it was difficult to take out.
Therefore, we changed the size from 23cm to 25cm and made it wider, so the new model's zipper pocket is now a convenient size for easily inserting and removing a long wallet.
Lining stitching method changed
The final change is that the lining stitching has changed.
As you can see when you look inside, the old model did not have stitching at the bottom, but the new model does.
Adding this stitching has two benefits: it makes repairs easier and it makes it easier for craftsmen to produce the item.
This increases production efficiency and reduces costs, allowing us to keep the selling price down.
Thus, the new model has been significantly updated in terms of efficiency and durability!
Finally
How was it? We introduced the differences between the old tote bag model and the new tote bag model today.
We want you to use HushTug products for a long time, so we will continue to make improvements to their ease of use as needed.
We'll share more when we make further changes!
Thank you for reading to the end.
Magari from HushTug
