Gucci traditional handicraft silk bags Sendai earthquake relief

       SENDAI - Italian fashion house Gucci has a manufacturer of traditional Japanese silk fabric Sendaihira handbags together with proceeds going to relief efforts in areas that produce from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan 2011 East affected areas.

Gucci is planning about 10 bags for about 420,000 yen ($ 4.225) per section for sale.

Yoshio Koda, 84, an artisan silk Sendaihira, dates from the Edo period (1603-1867), working with Gucci to produce the bags. Koda is living by the government as a national treasure.

Sendaihira was used for the traditional pants "hakama" for men, including the samurai. Sendaihira-made hakama were also favored by kabuki actors and sumo wrestlers.

Koda offered a "tan" for free (a measure of about 11 meters by 34 centimeters) of silk Sendaihira, worth several million yen, Gucci. Craftsmen for the Italian brand then integrated into the fabric bags special edition.

Some bags for sale at a department store in Sendai 12 July. The others will be sold in Tokyo and Osaka in September.