FUMIKODA ALEX in Tokyo: materials and a campaign through 30 November

For anyone looking for a bag without animal leather in Japan, here is the concrete update: on 9 October 2026 FUMIKODA announced that online sales of its ALEX tote had ended, and that a campaign at its Nakameguro store would run from 10 October to 30 November while stocks last. The official product page describes the main material as FUMITEX®, a durable artificial leather made in Japan; the brand says its bags do not use animal leather. Campaign prices are ¥60,500 for size M and ¥72,600 for L. These are statements from the maker, not independent vegan certification of the entire product.

We rechecked the announcement, product page and store information on 23 October 2026. We have not visited the shop or tested the bag: this is a practical guide based on official sources, not a first-hand review. Although the ALEX page remains visible online, the announcement says sales through the online boutique have ended. We therefore do not assume the online cart is available or that every colour remains in stock. Before travelling, check the campaign and ask the shop to confirm.

The Nakameguro campaign: dates, prices and gift

The initiative is presented as part of FUMIKODA’s tenth anniversary and a farewell to the ALEX model. When buying an ALEX in an available size and colour, the announcement lets customers choose a small accessory as a gift. Quantities are limited and the offer ends when stock runs out; discounted products and items covered by other campaigns are excluded. The official notice also clarifies a practical detail: the bag will be shipped later to an address chosen by the customer, while the gift can be taken home on the day.

The published campaign prices are ¥60,500 for M and ¥72,600 for L. Treat them as the amounts stated for this initiative, not as guaranteed prices after 30 November or proof that every size and colour is available. If budget matters, ask the shop to confirm the final price, colour and size before arranging a trip to Nakameguro. We do not convert the amount into euros: exchange rates change, and the actual cost may also depend on payment fees, international delivery and any taxes applicable to your situation.

ALEX leaves the online catalogue as ALEX to go takes its place

The same announcement says ALEX will leave the online catalogue as the line is consolidated around ALEX to go. This matters if you have saved an old product page or review: ALEX and ALEX to go should not be treated as identical models, and the announcement does not promise that every feature or accessory of the former will carry over to the latter. The ALEX page remains useful for reading the model’s published specifications, but it does not prove that an online order is possible. For a later purchase, consult the current catalogue and compare the page for the exact product.

For ALEX, the maker lists a zip closure, two inner pockets and space intended for A4 documents and laptops; dimensions and load limits are published for both sizes. These are product-page details, not measurements made by our editorial team. If you carry a laptop, compare its dimensions with the published figures and consider whether its case, charger and other items will fit without forcing the bag. For daily use, also check the strap length, the actual weight of the item you try and where the pockets are placed.

FUMITEX: what the maker states

The product page calls FUMITEX® a high-durability artificial leather and lists it as ALEX’s main material; the brand describes it as water- and stain-resistant. The page also states that the model is made in Japan and sewn in domestic workshops. These are the manufacturer’s claims: we have not run wear or waterproofing tests and do not present them as independent findings. They help explain the product’s positioning, especially if you want an alternative to animal leather for frequent use and easier cleaning.

The phrase artificial leather does not automatically mean that a material is plant-based, plastic-free or low-impact. The ALEX page identifies FUMITEX® and describes some performance qualities, but it does not publish a full percentage breakdown of every component or a comparative life-cycle assessment. If vegan sourcing is a strict requirement, ask whether the brand’s statement covers the lining, strap, adhesives, finishes and every accessory on the exact version. If environmental impact is your priority, ask about care, repairs and end-of-life options instead of inferring an overall benefit from the material name alone.

The same product page describes a repair service: for items purchased at regular price from authorised retailers, the company states that repairs are free during the first twelve months when a defect occurs; after that, it assesses a repair estimate under its own terms. Before relying on this coverage, read the linked service page and keep proof of purchase and the terms applicable to your model. Documented maintenance is useful information, but it does not guarantee that every type of damage will be repaired free of charge or that the service applies to every purchase.

Reading material details and asking the right question

If you are also checking clothing, Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency publishes textile-labelling rules: for specified textile-product categories, fibre names and percentages must be shown; where a part of a covered textile product uses leather or synthetic leather, the part and material type must be indicated clearly under the rules. Scope depends on the product, so do not automatically extend this requirement to every accessory or imported item. Most importantly, a tag is not a substitute for checking all components when you want a vegan product.

At the shop you can point to the item and ask: 「本体・裏地・付属品に動物由来の素材は使われていますか。接着剤や仕上げについても確認できますか？」—“Are any animal-derived materials used in the body, lining or accessories? Can you also check adhesives and finishes?” The question is deliberately specific: an answer about the outer material may not describe the whole item. If you receive only a general brand statement, ask for it to refer to ALEX and the exact version you are considering, then save the reply for comparison with the information at purchase.

Planning a visit to the store

FUMIKODA’s own shop is on the third floor of Asahibashi Building, 1-16-7 Aobadai, Meguro-ku, Tokyo. The official page gives an approximate six-minute walk from Nakameguro Station, served by the Tokyu Toyoko Line and Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line. It also notes that the building has no lift; if you need access assistance, contact the shop before visiting. Address and route help with planning, but do not confirm that the ALEX you want is still in stock.

The shop page lists opening hours of 11:00–19:00. Weekday visits require an appointment; on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, it says visitors may come without one. For a same-day visit, the site asks customers to call 03-5459-2730; check the calendar, closures and current arrangements before leaving because they may change. If travelling from outside Tokyo, ask in advance whether the model and colour you want can be viewed and purchased and how delivery will work. Do not plan the trip solely because the campaign page is still online.

This kind of purchase is easier to evaluate if you arrive with two or three practical criteria. Decide what you carry every day, which size could hold it, which colour would work with clothes you already own and how much you are willing to spend on a bag that will be delivered later. If possible, try it with a load similar to your usual one; ask how to clean it, what the repair service covers and what payment and delivery terms apply. The campaign is not an automatic sale and is not a reason to buy a model that does not meet a real need.

If ALEX is no longer available when you read this page, use the article as a trail for comparing the next line, not as a promise that the bag will return. Our guide to vegan bags and Japanese labels explains how to check materials and components; the guide to materials and brands in Japan compares other projects; and the Vegan fashion section collects more options. For warm clothing, our guide to coats without down covers a different question without conflating bags and garments.

Frequently asked questions about ALEX

Can you still buy ALEX online? The 9 October announcement says online sales of the model have ended; the product page is still viewable, but that is not proof of availability. Is the campaign still running? It was announced for 10 October–30 November 2026, while stocks last, but the shop must confirm stock and terms for your visit. How much does it cost? Campaign prices published by FUMIKODA are ¥60,500 for M and ¥72,600 for L; check again before travelling.

Is ALEX a vegan bag? FUMIKODA describes FUMITEX® as artificial leather and says its bags do not use animal leather. We did not find independent certification for the entire product or a public component list covering adhesives and finishes; if these details matter to you, ask about the specific version. Can you take the bag home immediately? The announcement says the gift is collected in store, while the bag is shipped later to an agreed address. Confirm current terms and keep the shop’s reply before purchasing.

Editorial check, sources and cover

Editorial check: 23 October 2026. Sources consulted: FUMIKODA’s ALEX campaign announcement, the official ALEX product page, the Nakameguro shop page, and the Consumer Affairs Agency of Japan’s textile-labelling rules. Reconfirm prices, stock, appointments, delivery and terms before setting out. We have not visited the shop and have added no affiliate links. The cover is an original AI-generated image of someone checking the label inside a generic bag; it does not depict FUMIKODA, ALEX or the real shop.