1970s Japanese Folding Clutch Bag Woven Stripe Kimono Handbag

This lovely vintage Japanese folding clutch dates from the 1970s and is unused with its original tag.

It is made from a beautifully textured woven fabric with narrow vertical stripes in muted indigo blue, black and warm gold-beige. The fabric has the appearance and texture of silk, although there is no fibre-content label, so we cannot confirm the material.

The bag has a dark metal gama-guchi (kiss-lock) frame with a double-ball clasp and a plain dark fabric lining.

This is the clever traditional folding style commonly seen in Japanese handbags of the period. When folded, it makes a slim, elegant clutch approximately 22 × 12 cm. When more room is needed, the lower portion unfolds and the bag expands to approximately 22 × 22 cm.

The original tag describes it as:

和装・洋装 お出掛けに
For outings in Japanese or Western dress

万能 おしゃれバッグ
Versatile Fashion Bag

The bag was still stuffed with its original Japanese newspaper, which dates from 1977, giving us a good indication of its age.

It would be equally suitable as a clutch to accompany kimono or Western clothing, just as it was originally marketed in Japan nearly 50 years ago.