A bag that finds its shape.

Published 21 October 2026 · WHV · Public-source editorial note

A bag usually receives its shape before you put anything inside it. BAO BAO ISSEY MIYAKE makes that relationship less fixed. In TRACK, triangular units are incorporated within fabric so that a surface can move from a relatively flat state into a changing three-dimensional form.

The pattern participates in the construction

Introduced in 2023, the series translates a recognisable BAO BAO idea through a different material treatment. The triangles are not simply a graphic printed over an ordinary bag. Their relationship with flexible areas makes movement part of the object’s visual character. A restrained handle and surface let that construction remain legible in everyday use.

The larger design question is still being explored. BAO BAO’s LAB 02 account describes separate research with the University of Tokyo’s Tachi Laboratory, begun in 2025, into triangular tessellations and new connecting systems. That work should not be used to claim that a 2023 TRACK bag contains the later experimental joints. It does show why an apparently playful accessory can open a serious discussion about geometry.

Distinguish a product from a research prototype

Handle the exact bag with the things you intend to carry. Notice how weight changes its volume, how the handle feels and whether the closure suits your routine. Read the relevant care guidance and confirm the available model rather than relying on a historical launch list. The enduring attraction is a useful object whose behaviour keeps its underlying idea visible, without needing a precious material to make the idea interesting.

Source and context.

ISSEY MIYAKE: the 2023 TRACK introduction and embedded triangular structure ↗

BAO BAO LAB 02: triangular tessellations and the separate Tachi Laboratory research ↗

ISSEY MIYAKE: current material care guidance, including BAO BAO ↗

The press photograph shows a 2023 TRACK tote, not the LAB 02 joint-system prototypes or a guarantee of current stock. Materials and construction differ across BAO BAO ranges. No durability test, authentication or resale appraisal is implied.

Source checked 21 October 2026. WHV interpretation is distinct from the source’s account.