Written/Compiled and Reported by Chen Guan-Xin, MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Network
After holding an art exhibition and publishing an art book in 2013, actor Ko Yan-Fu collaborated with the new-generation Taiwanese local brand deya in 2014 to launch four cultural and creative black tide bags: “Fupo Taiwan,” “Mobile Dream Castle,” “Exploring Our City,” and “World Travelogue.” This collaboration transformed Ko Yan-Fu into a creative artist. These four bag designs took over a year of planning between deya and Ko Yan-Fu before finalizing the illustrations, designs, and samples, resulting in four fashionable black tide bags that combine dreams, culture, and Taiwanese identity. These bags are expected to be exported to over 50 countries worldwide, including Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Europe, and the United States.
Four cultural and creative bags designed by actor Ko Yan-Fu, including “Fupo Taiwan” and “World Travelogue,” will be exported to over 50 countries around the world, showcasing Taiwan to the globe. (Photo provided by Pinjoy Corporation)
For Ko Yan-Fu, who has loved drawing since childhood, painting has always been his biggest dream. However, his family hoped he would pursue other careers, fearing limited prospects. Unexpectedly, he now has the opportunity to paint on bags, and he can finally prove to his family that art can be a livelihood. “I never thought I’d one day have my own creative product. This collaboration makes me both excited and nervous. I’m confident about my painting, but putting my artwork on bags was a challenge for me. I hope everyone will like them,” Ko Yan-Fu said happily.
deya is an original brand launched by Pinjoy Corporation, with its name inspired by the Taiwanese Hokkien pronunciation for “bag.” deya specializes in designing trendy and fashionable bags. Initially, the Taiwan-based team collaborated with a French designer. By chance, they came across Ko Yan-Fu’s artwork and learned that he is the host of a travel show with deep knowledge of Taiwanese culture. His artistic style incorporates both Taiwanese elements and a global perspective, leading to the collaboration. Xu Neng-Jun, General Manager of deya, stated that both deya and Ko Yan-Fu originate from Taiwan, share a love for the country, and have their own dreams of shining on the world stage. Collaborating with Ko Yan-Fu marks the first step for deya in connecting with Taiwan’s roots and promoting Taiwanese cultural creativity globally. Taiwan was once known as the “Kingdom of Bags,” but earlier production was mostly OEM-based. After the industry declined due to offshoring, Xu hopes deya can change that trend.
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