By teaming up with Japanese denim brand Kuroki, Eastpak has raised the bar with its hard-wearing line of backpacks.

Already a leader when it comes to street-smart luggage, American lifestyle label Eastpak is to work alongside some of the world’s leading makers in a series of new collaborations. The sartorial pairings will form a collection called “Inspired By The World Of...” and will feature, among others, a particularly striking rework of the Padded Pak’r® backpack, for which Eastpak worked alongside acclaimed Japanese denim brand Kuroki.

When it comes to denim, Japan’s reputation is unmatched. The Far Eastern powerhouse is the go-to for high-end denim that gets better with every wear. The reason for this is historical: when most of the world looked to mass-produced jeans or imported American pieces in the 1950s and 1960s, a small selection of Japanese artisan brands made premium denim manufacturing into an art form.

What they did differently was to use shuttle looms in the fabric’s construction. This technique must be done by hand and requires an incredible amount of expertise. The results, though, are stunning: giving a tighter, denser weave to the denim, and so marking it out for in-the-know buyers.

The deep skill of the Japanese craftsman can also be seen in the fabric’s selvedge finish. Created when woven threads are knitted together with a red-cross yarn, this instantly recognisable “self-finished edge” means the fabric is less likely to unravel. It, too, is one of the hallmark of Japan’s upscale denim industry.

Kuroki is a true denim icon and the perfect partner for Eastpak to collaborate with. Kuroki has been making cotton fabrics in its headquarters in Okayama since 1950 – turning to the production of denim in the 1960s – and has not just a weighty heritage but also a long list of people wanting to buy its products.

From its 100 shuttle looms – made by the pioneering Toyoda company at the start of the country’s denim craze – Kuroki’s team produce material which is dyed using fresh water and natural indigo to ensure every product has a striking blue colour. The material is then threaded, weaved and finished with the greatest care to ensure it is the highest quality possible.

Eastpak has successfully taken Kuroki’s premium selvedge denim, and worked with the brand’s craftsman to create a head-turning update on its classic Padded Pak’r® backpack. The result? A hardy product that’s not prone to fraying and is ready to take on the elements at any time. The inside lining features koi fish and a zip-locking front pocket means you’ll even be organised on the move. Plus now triple denim is a bonafide wardrobe option.