How comfortable is the Apple Leather backpack made from discarded apples? Honest review from a real user! ~Me and LOVST TOKYO. ~[#1 Yuha Yoshikawa] Part 1

The "Apple Rucksack" is made from apple leather derived from discarded apples.

This rucksack, with its cute rounded silhouette, has been a hugely popular item at LOVST TOKYO since its launch. Now, the "Apple Rucksack" is back, transitioning from Italian-made to Japanese-made apple leather!

We asked a heavy user who uses it 7 days a week about their experience with the renewed version compared to the previous one.

This person will be giving an "honest review" of the "Apple Rucksack"!

Yuha Yoshikawa

Director and COO of V-Cook Inc., which operates a vegan recipe posting site, a vegan product online store, and a vegan deli subscription service. She has been living a vegan lifestyle since age 7 and, while in college, operated the "Green Rabbits Club," a vegan event business for younger generations.

 

Design and Functionality You'll Want to Carry 7 Days a Week

LOVST TOKYO (hereafter, LOVST): We heard that you use the "Apple Rucksack" 7 days a week, Yuha. Please tell us what you find useful about it as an "everyday bag."

Yuha Yoshikawa (hereafter, Yuha): First, it's surprisingly light, which makes it easy to carry!

LOVST: Apple leather really is light, isn't it?

Yuha: It is. Also, even when I put a lot of things in it, I'm glad that the neat, rounded silhouette doesn't lose its shape.

LOVST: Thank you! Is there anything else you find useful?

Yuha: I love that it has several pockets where I can store small items separately. There's a front pocket, side pockets, a small zippered pocket inside, and even a PC sleeve! It's easy to organize my belongings, and I think it has excellent functionality.

LOVST: Can you show us how you actually store things?

Yuha: First, I put my eco-bag in the side pocket. I can reach it while wearing the backpack, which is convenient when I go shopping at the supermarket!

 LOVST: I see. We often hear from customers in reviews that it's convenient to take out their water bottle or folding umbrella while wearing it. What do you put in the front pocket?

Yuha: I put things I use often, like lipstick, hair ties, and mint tablets. I prefer to put my water bottle inside, and I also put my laptop, glasses case, and wallet in there.

 

Yuha's bag contents 

LOVST: There's also a zippered inner pocket at the top of the inside. Do you put anything in there?

Yuha: I put things I need to access quickly for work, such as my business card holder, a pen, and tissues.

LOVST: I see. Separating items by pocket is a great way to keep things organized. Is there anything you find particularly easy to use when considering it as a work bag?

Yuha: The PC sleeve and the handle at the top are surprisingly helpful. It's very useful for crowded train commutes, as I can quickly take it off my shoulders and carry it.

LOVST: It's convenient, isn't it? On the other hand, is there anything you felt was "almost perfect but not quite"?

Yuha: I use Air Pods frequently, so I thought it would be nice if there was a carabiner attached to the strap for quick access.

LOVST: Outdoor backpacks often have those. We'll take that into consideration!

 

The Appeal of the Renewed Version as Felt by a Heavy User Who Has Used It Since the First Generation

LOVST: Yuha, you've used both the first-generation and renewed "Apple Rucksack." You chose the creamy "Ivory" for the first generation and the fresh "Off-white" for the renewed version. Do you have a preference for bright colors?

Yuha: When I bought the first generation, I had just dyed my hair a bright color, which got me into white. So, I didn't hesitate to choose "Ivory." It's hard to find bright-colored leather backpacks, even though it seems like they would exist.

LOVST: I see. Do you notice a difference in the shade between the "Ivory" of the previous version and the "Off-white" of the renewed version?

Yuha: Honestly, not that much (laughs). It's still convenient and easy to match with any outfit. I usually wear bright-colored tops and clothes, but black leather backpacks tend to look too formal and out of place with my style.

But the "Off-white" blends in naturally, so I can plan my outfits each morning without worrying about matching them with my bag, which is a great help.

A proper "ON" outfit with a shirt and loafers

A casually elegant "OFF" outfit with a dress and sandals

 

LOVST: By the way, not only the color, but also the brand logo on the front has been renewed. Did you notice that?

Yuha: The "O" in LOVST is an apple, isn't it? The subtle apple mark is cute!

LOVST: Thank you! Actually, there's an apple mark on the zipper pull too.

Yuha: I didn't know that!

LOVST: The material has also changed from Italian-made to Japanese-made apple leather this time. How does it feel to the touch? 

Yuha: It feels smooth and luxurious. I want people to experience this texture, so when I introduce it to friends, I tell them, "Feel it first!"

LOVST: That makes me happy! Actually, not only has the material of the backpack itself changed, but we were also able to reduce CO2 emissions from material transportation, and reduce the carbon footprint during production compared to the first-generation "Apple Rucksack."

Yuha: That's amazing. With the development of domestic apple leather, not only LOVST but also other brands now have more material options. I think that if many brands adopt domestic apple leather, the amount of CO2 emitted by the industry as a whole can be further reduced, which is a very positive trend.

LOVST: Thank you! As someone who has been using the "Apple Rucksack" almost daily since before the renewal, who would you recommend it to? Finally, please tell us.

Yuha: I would recommend it to people who are looking for a bag that combines "environmentally friendly materials" and "functionality." I think many people feel that even if a material is sustainable, they don't want to buy something if they are not satisfied with its design or function. I'm actually one of them.

LOVST: I totally understand!

Yuha: The reason I choose LOVST TOKYO bags is that they are committed to materials, and they also have excellent design and functionality. I would definitely recommend this backpack, which has all three qualities, to anyone looking for one.

 

 

Click here for the second part.

In the second part, we interview Yuha, who gave an honest review of the "Apple Rucksack," about how she encountered LOVST TOKYO and what has changed since she started using plant-based vegan leather backpacks. We also ask Yuha about her work and her personal rules for working comfortably, so please read both parts.