A discontinued collaborative edition of one of PORTER’s most recognisable utility backpacks.

The UNION series has been part of Yoshida & Co.’s catalogue since 1996, built around an unusual hybrid of a backpack, work bag and tote. Its defining details are the tall twin carry handles and workwear-inspired front storage arrangement, drawing on traditional tool bags and industrial waist pouches.

This version was produced for B印 YOSHIDA, the joint BEAMS × Yoshida Kaban label. Rather than redesigning the UNION entirely, B印 YOSHIDA made one deliberately restrained change: the normal PORTER UNION identification was replaced by a distinctive white PORTER name tag. BEAMS described the white label as an intentional way of making the utilitarian UNION sit more naturally with cleaner, more mature styling.

That small distinction matters now because the white-tag UNION is no longer a standard production model. B印 YOSHIDA itself operated from 2003 until February 2022, when BEAMS ended the label.

The bag retains the classic UNION architecture: a structured black body, broad adjustable backpack straps, twin elongated top handles for hand carry, substantial main compartment and prominent external utility pockets. The result feels closer to Japanese workwear and industrial design than a conventional technical backpack.

Constructed in Japan from durable polyester canvas, the fabric has a dry, substantial hand and is designed to resist colour loss better than comparable cotton canvas. UNION constructions also use a coated reverse to provide additional resistance against moisture.

This example is in very good pre-owned condition. The body remains impressively structured, the straps show minimal deformation, hardware remains fully operational and the interior is notably clean. There are isolated superficial marks/scuffs consistent with careful use and some natural bronze-toned ageing/discolouration to a metal press stud.

For someone specifically collecting PORTER, BEAMS collaborations or discontinued Japanese-market products, this is considerably more interesting than the standard green-label UNION.

Founded in Japan, Yoshida & Co. produces PORTER bags under a manufacturing philosophy centred on Japanese construction and durability. PORTER has subsequently become one of Japan’s most internationally recognised bag labels.

B印 YOSHIDA — B JIRUSHI YOSHIDA — was established in 2003 through the longstanding relationship between Yoshida Kaban and BEAMS. Rather than functioning simply as another PORTER retailer, the label developed collaborative and exclusive models combining Yoshida’s bag manufacturing with BEAMS’ product direction. BEAMS formally concluded the B印 YOSHIDA label on 28 February 2022, making its exclusive products finite rather than ongoing catalogue pieces.

The UNION collaboration is a particularly good example of that approach: instead of over-designing an established PORTER model, B印 altered the visual identity through the white name label, leaving the underlying industrial design intact.