Japan’s cultural influence around the world cannot be underestimated. No matter which industry vertical you think of, influential and much loved Japanese brands and products almost certainly come to mind, regardless of your passion. For example ...

Some beloved fashion brands:

Some of gaming's biggest names:

Car companies many of us know and rely on daily:

The cultural exports, however, do not end there. Japanese cuisine has become a mainstay around the world, with omakase and sushi spots, ramen shops, and cool izakayas peppered throughout major cities, raising the profile of the diverse aspects of Japanese cuisine. Many are obsessed with anime and manga, and other forms of Japanese-born entertainment.

The reality is, the words “Made in Japan” carry enormous value, with many consumers seeking out the Japanese made version of products that may be produced in multiple locations. We all know someone who has checked a car's VIN number to make sure a Japanese brand's model was in fact manufactured in Japan, versus another plant somewhere else in the world (editor's note - possibly the author of this article ...).

So what is it about these Japanese exports that make them worthy of this type of adulation?

A common thread between these diverse products is something uniquely Japanese - a combination of attention to detail and a focus on quality and craftsmanship.

A unique and innovative sense of style and purpose.

A general pride in the creations that consumers can feel through the resulting products.

And a cool factor that can’t be quantified.

The “Made in Japan” moniker has come to mean futuristic, sleek, smart, and infinitely likeable.

In case you can't tell, we are big fans of what Japan brings to the rest of the world, and are always seeking out the latest brands and products to come from the land of the rising sun, and we've run into one ready to shine in Canada.

Enter Gentil Bandit. Born in Japan in 2011 under the artistic direction of Benoit, an expat originally from Normandy, France, living in Japan. Perhaps due to the French Haute Couture running through his veins - after all, he's originally from the land of heritage labels like Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent and Chanel - Benoit struggled to find a bag that met exactly what he was looking for and could transcend fashion trends. So like any great creative mind, Benoit took the time to create his own, which clearly draws inspiration from both Japanese and European style. The line of bags combined modern and classic aspects, ending his search for the perfect bag. All that was left was to name this new brand, and Benoit chose "Gentil Bandit", which translates in English to "kind thief". Its goal - steal the heart of those who see the products.

Where the magic happens. Image courtesy of Gentil Bandit

Gentil Bandit’s collection is made up of versatile backpacks, tote bags, crossbody bags, weekender bags and more crafted from luxury materials and designed with its trademark camo patterns. Every bag is entirely handmade in Osaka, Japan, with all raw goods and materials sourced directly from Japan as well, ensuring the benefits of Japanese know-how. The material that makes up the body of the bag is made by applying PVC processing to the same cotton fabric (canvas) used for Louis Vuitton's Monogram and Damier lines. The hardware is custom and branded with Gentil Bandit’s whimsical logo. The leather trims are carefully thought out and unique to each style. Perhaps drawing more inspiration from Beniot’s European heritage, the camo is paired with Saffiano leather accents, first made popular by Prada. LABEL NOIR, Gentil Bandit’s new line of embossed leather and canvas bags, uses soft and smooth leather trims to compliment the embossed body.

What helps to separate Gentil Bandit from the pack is that, due to being handmade, no two bags look exactly alike. Bags from the Camo Collection have the brand's trademark white paint spots painted by hand by a craftsman. Likewise, the gradation of the bags creates a 3D effect for the camo design, looking slightly different depending on how light hits it.

It’s not all just about luxury and visual design, though. The bags themselves are made for the real world with a focus on being durably built and intended to last for years, while leveraging materials that are resistant to rain, scratches and dirt. They are also very practical, cleverly offering remarkable storage space, despite their more compact designs. They often offer pockets perfect for phones, along other thoughtful design touches such as ensuring zippers are easy to reach while wearing one of the backpacks, for example.

Gentil Bandit’s signature black camo canvas.

Custom zippers, made from Japanese raw materials.

An iPhone, a wallet, a key case, a hand towel, and even a 500mL water bottle fit into the Black Camo Crossbody Bag despite its compact design.

While the brand is totally new to Canada (offered first in this country through Gotengo!) and emerging in the United States, it is already very popular and trendy in Japan, while gaining significant popularity among international athletes, as well as catching the eye of NFL and NBA stars. The bags are typically unisex and, unsurprisingly, also popular with women. Of all of the athletes and superstars, we'd be lying if we didn't say that we love that Victoria Secret model Taylor Hill is a fan of Gentil Bandit the most. She is known to shop for the brand while in Japan.

Victoria Secret model Taylor Hill showing off her Gentil Bandit backpack. Image courtesy of Gentil Bandit

While Gentil Bandit is available across Japan, for most people from western countries, it has remained a hidden gem, available only during trips to Japan. That, however, is beginning to change and western countries are starting to take notice, helped by pop-ups at the iconic Macy's Herald Square on 34th Street in NYC, Selfridges in the UK, and of course, now available to Canadians online from Gotengo! We invite you to check out both the Gentil Bandit Camo Collection and LABEL NOIR to see the next Big Thing coming from Japan!

LABEL NOIR canvas backpack can be used everywhere since it is water resistant, dirt proof, and easy to clean.