Why The New Issey Miyake ME Trunk Pleats Bag Is Our Favourite Work-To-Weekend Bag

The micro bag trend might be all the rage but nothing quite beats a stylish tote that fits all your essentials, while adding that extra oomph to your outfit. As a magazine editor by day and yoga teacher by night, I’ve always struggled with the dilemma of finding the perfect arm candy that takes me from work to play.

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

Then I met the Issey Miyake ME Trunk Pleats Bag and the rest was history. Inspired by the look of tree trunks, this unique bag features vertical pleats along its body and zig-zag pleats along the handles.

Here are five reasons why it’s become my new favourite work-to-weekend bag:

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

#1 It comes in 12 vivid colours

Photo from Issey Miyake

This bag comes in a whole rainbow spectrum of colours, which meant I was utterly spoilt for choice picking one. I eventually settled for a cobalt blue one, which looked striking against my tan skin. From bold and bright primary colours to monochrome shades and even soft pastels, the variety of shades meant that they could be easily mixed and matched for different occasions.

#2 It’s roomy enough to fit everything

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

Don’t be deceived by how tiny the bag looks when it arrives—neatly folded into its pleats like a flat object. The pleats spread out beautifully depending on what you place inside, creating a variety of looks. I can’t rave enough about how much it holds, from my 13-inch MacBook, which fits snugly, to my bundle of gym clothes. On the weekends, I keep my essentials minimal with just a pair of sunnies and a water bottle, allowing the bag’s pleats to fall nicely into a fan-like shape.

#3 It can be easily kept when not in use

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

When not in use, the ME Trunk Pleats bag folds nicely into itself, allowing it to be kept into another bag. I found it especially useful as a spare shopper bag on weekends if I decide to go shopping. Saying “no” to single-use plastic bags is especially wonderful when I’ve got a better and prettier alternative. When dining out, the bag’s structured form also kept it upright whenever I placed it on a chair.

#4 It takes me from work to play

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

At work, I paired my cobalt blue ME Trunk Pleats bag with a monochrome crop top and wide-legged jeans to keep it effortlessly chic. For the weekend, I swapped my outfit for an athleisure ensemble of muscle tank, sports bra, and biker shorts to attend a yoga festival, which matched the playful pleats of the bag equally well.

#5 It’s sustainable

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

Issey Miyake walks the talk when it comes to sustainability and these pleated bags happen to be made from 100 percent recycled polyester fibre that’s recycled from plastic bottles. By the look and feel of the bag’s quality, you’d never have guessed! This was certainly a good conversation starter whenever somebody complimented my bag.

Priced at $130, the ME Trunk Pleats Bag is available at PLEATS PLEASE Issey Miyake located at Forum the Shopping Mall, #01-28/29. Follow Club21 on Instagram here.

This post is brought to you by Issey Miyake and Club 21.