An Adventure Concerning the "Bathe Cross"

Collaboration with WEB MAGAZINE
『Mon Oncle』

2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the iconic HUNTING WORLD "BATTUE CLOTH" bag. To commemorate this milestone, we are embarking on a project to revisit its rich history. For this endeavor, we've partnered with "MON ONCLE," a web magazine launched in 2022 that aims to connect classic fashion culture with the next generation. We invite you to discover the untold stories of HUNTING WORLD through this collaboration with a media outlet that is both nostalgic and refreshingly new.

For us Japanese, Hunting World is a culture in itself. I truly felt this a few years ago when I acquired the brand's iconic masterpiece, the "Carryall."

Around that time, American trad from the late 1970s to early 1980s started to feel fresh to me. I was rummaging through vintage stores for Willis & Geiger hunting jackets, which were popular back then, and having flare-pant suits custom-made. The bag I thought of to complement such a style was Hunting World. My father, who traveled overseas frequently, and my cousin, who was into Shibukaji (Shibuya Casual), had both used it, making it a familiar presence. However, my reason for purchasing it was purely based on its freshness as a fashion item. It was more of a "Isn't this ahead of its time?" kind of feeling.

However, when I carry this bag, many people talk to me. Most of them are from the generation of fathers who knew Hunting World's dawn, or older brothers who remember the Shibukaji boom. As soon as they see my outfit, nostalgic stories just pour out. In Japan, this brand isn't just a high-end product or a fashion item; it's closely tied to the lifestyles of each era, and there are countless storytellers associated with it.

According to Hunting World's official announcement, it was founded in 1965. Bob Lee, a New York-born businessman and explorer whose life's work was African travel, established the brand to create ideal luggage that met his specific standards. After various trials and errors, the material he finally created in 1972 was that moss-green nylon fabric, Battening Cloth. Well, you might all know that much.

However, the fragmented history I learned from the storytellers extended far beyond that scope.

They said, "Battening Cloth had its roots in France!"
They said, "Among the Shibukaji crowd, it was as popular as Louis Vuitton's Boston bag!"

And these fragments of history raised further questions.

"Why did a New York brand get influenced by a French bag?"
"Why did a bag made for hunting become popular as a luxury brand?"
"Before direct stores opened, which store was the first to import this brand in Japan?" etc.

Now that the founder, Bob Lee, is no longer with us, it seems there's unfortunately no one at Hunting World today who can answer these questions.

Recently, old-school American trad has been globally revived, and among young people in their 20s, the admiration for Hunting World has rekindled. I've been complimented on this bag numerous times by staff at cafes and vintage stores. At a time like this, I want to pass on not just a trendy fashion item, but also its history and culture to the next generation!

So, Eisuke Yamashita, editor of "Boku no Ojisan," has been tasked with unearthing the culture of Hunting World with the help of valuable witnesses. Please look forward to an incredibly nostalgic and exciting adventure surrounding Battening Cloth.

Eisuke YamashitaClick to read moreClose

Yamashita Eisuke

Born in Saitama Prefecture in 1976. After graduating from university, he entered the world of magazine editing.
After working in the editorial departments of "LEON" and "MEN'S EX," he was involved in the launch of "MEN'S Precious" in 2009, where he worked as a fashion director and creative director until 2020.<br> Currently, he works as a freelance editor, contributing to publications such as the monthly "Bungeishunju," and in 2022, he launched the web magazine "Boku no Ojisan / MON ONCLE."

CONTENTS