Textile manufacturer Komatsu Seiren has begun selling the "Oni Veggie Bag," made with "Oni Veggie," a synthetic material dyed with quercetin, a pigment extracted from the outer skin of domestic onions. It retails for ¥12,000. The bag is a tote bag with a leather handle that can be worn over the shoulder. It measures 34cm high and 46cm wide, and is large enough to hold A4-sized documents. It features soft colors derived from natural pigments. The bag comes in a total of 61 colors, ranging from strong quercetin to softer shades created by combining gardenia and pomegranate peel. According to Komatsu Seiren, when the product was first developed in June of this year, there were 24 colors available, but 37 new colors have been added in the past few months. The fabric is made from Komatsu Seiren's original standing fabric, "KONBU-N." This material is sturdy enough to stand on its own, yet ultra-lightweight and easy to care for. It's also convenient because it can be hand-washed at home with detergent. It's important to choose a detergent that won't fade, but with careful care and attention to detail, it looks like it will last a long time.

According to the company, the "Oni Veggie Bag" was born from a discovery made by a research employee at Komatsu Seiren. He noticed that the boots worn by women working in the company cafeteria were stained with onions. "I didn't know onions could produce such beautiful colors!" he exclaimed. He immediately began trial and error to harness the dyeing power of onions to create beautiful dyes for the product, and soon established a technology that allowed for stable coloring.

The product will be on sale at a pop-up store on the second floor of the main building of Isetan Shinjuku from September 3rd to 9th. Mizuochi Akito of Komatsu Seiren, who is involved in sales, says, "We are a materials manufacturer, so what makes us happiest is when so many people can see our products made with original materials that inspire people. We hope that people will come to the store, pick up the products, and feel how light and pleasant they are to the touch."