Sampaguita Shop Spotted in Kyoto
A very familiar-sounding shop has been spotted in the streets of Kyoto. Once you see this shop called Sampaguita, you’ll know at first glance that it’s either Filipino-owned or Filipino-inspired.
Sampaguita is a fashion brand of bags and hats in Kyoto, Japan./IMAGE Ameblo.jp
Located near Karasuma Station in Kyoto, Sampaguita is a shop that has a fashionable lineup of handmade handbags and hats that are made from natural materials like fiber from the Philippines and genuine leather and silk from Japan. The products do seem to have a distinctive Filipino taste.
So as not to keep you in suspense—it is not owned by a Filipino but rather a Japanese named Shingo Fukuda who has had exposure to the Philippine culture by doing graduate studies at the University of the Philippines. Seeing the shoe industry in Marikina inspired him to collaborate with the local people to design bags that would suit well with the clothing fashion in Japan.
Sampaguita bags and hats are loved by women./IMAGE Sampaguita website
Sampaguita bags and hats are made in Japanese traditional standards with Filipino inspiration and a contemporary European taste. Fukuda’s exploration, collaboration with craftsmen, and pursuit for newness led him to a distinct fashion brand of bags and hats that go perfectly well with kimonos and yukatas.
The bags are a great fashionable companion! /IMAGE Sampaguita website
Apparently, Fukuda knows a lot about the Philippine culture. On the website of Sampaguita, he elaborated on the meaning and legend of Sampaguita so well, giving his customers a good overview of his inspirations for his product line.
Although a pure Japanese, Fukuda named his brand after the Philippines’ national flower to commemorate the country as a source of valuable commodity and to associate his products with eternal love, which the flower signifies.
Sampaguita’s main store is located on Takoyakushi Street in Jumonjicho, Kyoto but its products are distributed all over Japan by 30 retailers.
Written by Rizelle “Rei” Leaño
Sources: Rappler, Sampaguita website
Images grabbed from Sampaguita website, Ameblo.jp
