If the last Japanese treasure you carried was a Hello Kitty coin purse when you were 5 (okay, 16), it’s time to reassess.

Specifically, sack your tired handbag for one from Kiki London.

Designer Kiki Ito — born in Japan, schooled in California and design-trained in London — creates slim, impeccably proportioned clutches from vintage Japanese kimonos and obis. Inspired by the Meiji period (when East met West), the look is Asian without being costumey.

Ito uses glossy leather (black patent, metallic gold) generously, but we especially love her creamy ivory suede and shimmery silk creations. The graphic shapes (playful folds, cinched middles, curved silhouettes) make tongue-in-cheek reference to the fabric’s past, while contrast detailing finishes things off.

They’re made in limited numbers (one obi = seven bags), so pick your favourite fast. Excess fabric is lost in translation.

Available by phone order (07868 574657) or e-mail (kiki@kiki-london.com), £180-£350. To see styles, go to kiki-london.com.

Photo: Courtesy of Kiki London