Tokidoki = sometimes, from time to time
I have always loved Tokidoki bags! The print themes and various characters are just so adorable. Just recently, I bought my first Tokidoki bag! It's the Buon Viaggio Tutti bag and I just love it! I like this particular print because it’s a bit simpler with the black and white colors instead of the more typical colorful print. I work in a more conservative environment so this bag is great to use for work. Just after I purchased my first Tokidoki bag, I found a spectacular deal at Nordstrom’s Rack in Sacramento for a Pirata print Zucca shoulder bag. I love the Tokidoki prints; I just wish I could afford to collect them all!
Ive always been interested in finding out the story behind the making of Tokidoki bags and the crazed obsession. I found out that the word Tokidoki in Japanese means "sometimes" or "from time to time," as in sometimes something happens to change one's destiny, which is what happened when the artist, Simone Legno, was discovered about 5 years ago. Back in 2003, the co-founder of Hard Candy discovered Legno’s personal website and was so excited about his artwork that she arranged a business meeting with him in LA. Legno was already already successful as a graphic artist and illustrator who had worked for designer John Galliano, Toyota, Daihatsu and MTV. His online portfolio was getting about 20,000 hits a day, and he had a number of T-shirts and bags for sale, but his work wasn't close to being recognized as a brand. Who would have known that they would create one of the most creative collaborations between a single artist and established companies.
The first Tokidoki line in collaboration with LeSportsac erupted in spring of 2006 with the famous original Tokidoki print. Each bag comes with a Qee, a figurine keychain created by Toy2R, and a carabineer attached to a stretch cord. From the first season, Tokidoki bags have been a big hit with an enormous fan base. Each seasons’ bags have been high in demand and many fans have been creating their own personal collections. The downside to this popularity is that there are more and more counterfeit bags being sold on ebay. We all have to be more knowledgeable about the real bags.