Meet the makers

UCHIWA BAMBOO FAN
The production of Kutami Uchiwa began in 1600. A traveling priest from Marugame City, a city famous for uchiwa, initiated people in Kutami City into the production method of uchiwa, in return for letting him stay a night at the city. The uchiwa is coated with persimmon tannin, which makes its Japanese traditional washi paper strong and long-lasting, while also having an effect of insect proofing. Kurikawa Shoten is the only workshop that inherits the tradition of Kutami City, a city that was counted one of the three greatest production areas of uchiwa in Japan, other than Kyoto and Marugame City.

YAMACHIKU
Founded in 1963 Yamachiku is producing bamboo chopsticks made by the thick Moso bamboo.
The bamboo trees are cut by professional foresters, helping to preserve the local ecosystem of the Kumamoto bamboo grove.
Bamboo is an extremely fast growing and therefore very sustainable material.

Karimoku New Standard
Founded by leading Japanese furniture manu­facturer Karimoku in 2009, Karimoku New Standard is defined by its fusion of progressive ideas and manufacturing excellence. Bringing together the unique perspectives of Karimoku’s craftsmen and a select group of international designers, the brand presents new standards in Japanese furniture design.
Karimoku New Standard’s pursuit of high quality outcomes includes responsible produc­tion, starting with the material itself. Sustainably grown Japanese hardwoods are sourced from northern Japan as part of an initiative to revital­ise the forests and the industries they support. The low-diameter trees, which are often discarded or used as paper pulp, are processed in regional workshops before taking shape through a combination of skilled craftsmanship and advanced technology.
Over the past decade the brand has evolved through its collaborative approach and the belief that true standards should not only be universal, but exemplary in nature. This philosophy continues to inspire the brand’s designers and craftsmen, who strive to create innovative furniture of the highest quality, imbued with a sense of joy.

BAG’n’NOUN
Founded in 2005 in Osaka by Takeshi Ozawa, Bag’n’Noun develops some of the most unique, functional and fashionable bags.
From his studio and shop in central Osaka, Ozawa designs and produces the bag series, as well as a line of men’s fashion (Necessary Or Unnecessary).
All products are entirely handmade, in collaboration with a unique manufacturer in Osaka.
Hence Bag’n’Noun stands for high quality standards and has been recognized for this ever since.
Working with premium textiles, developing constantly innovative designs and with its ongoing commitment to quality, Bag’n’Noun established itself as one of the most important locally producing bag brands in Japan.

1616/ Arita
Arita is the famous and ancient ceramics town located on Kyushu Island in Southern Japan.
It was in this town, in the year 1616, that the Koreans first introduced the art of porcelain pottery to Japan.
“1616/ Arita” are two contemporary porcelain collections, which have been created by Japanese designer and art director  Teruhiro Yanagihara (TY) and Dutch designers Scholten & Baijings (S&B), using the specialist skills found in the pottery town of Arita.

2016/ Arita
2016/ makes contemporary porcelain using the specialist skills found in the pottery town of Arita, Japan.
Local artistry is combined with the design of 16 international designers or design teams to create desirable, everyday porcelain products.
2016/ aims to revive interest in and bring commerce back to this remarkable craft region and its makers.
The 2016/ project is being carried out by Saga Prefecture as part of the Arita Porcelain 400th Anniversary Project.

LIFE
Life Japanese Stationery is a well established brand in Japan, known for its high quality of paper and bindings. Since 1949 the company continues to make its notebooks by hand in downtown Tokyo, resulting in a touch of old world quality.

Baggy Port
Baggy Port was founded in 1991 their original aim was to create solid men bags for tools, not necessarily fashionable but simple, useful and strong bags.
The bags are made out of natural products such as paraffin waxed canvas, lava stone coloring, or traditional white charcoal and each design is developed by one of Baggy Port’s workers. The brand’s concept stresses the importance of incorporating the skills and legacy of traditional artisans into their simple and original modern designs.

Candy Design & Works
Keyrings from Candy Design Works are designed by Jiro Kwamoto and hand crafted in Kobe.
These keyrings designs are inspired by keyrings from the 1920’s and the 1930’s. The material changes over the time of use and becomes more characteristic and smooth.

KYO-TO-TO
“KYO-TO-TO” is a brand name that fuses “Kyoto” and “Tokyo” representing both traditional and contemporary centers of Japan. “Departing from Kyoto via Tokyo – to the World”, their concept as an embroidery brand who explores new ways of passing on culture/tradition and the possibility of new embroidery. They hope that the Japanese culture and tradition will be succeeded by, looking, listening, feeling, using and enjoying the beauty of the forms and sounds of Japanese language and the traditional techniques.

Tenugui
Our Tenugui towels and scarfs are handmade, dyed in a new technique called Roll-Printing, which allows a unique effect of a double side dye.

Shinkougei
Shinkougei dolls and washi paper products are produced in the lovely, folkloristic, country side town of Takayama. The family business started in 1971 and is now in the second generation.
All dolls are made by mothproofing rice hulls and dyed by hand. Absolutely kids friendly to play from three month on. They are made out of cotton textile and Rice hulls in the inside.
All Shinkougei paper products are made with the traditional Japanese woodblock printing technic on Japanese washi paper and carton.

Uamou
Ayako Takagi is the designer behind “UAMOU” – character from another world.
She studied in London and exhibited her work in several world cities such as Tokyo, Shanghai, London and Paris. The little Uamou figures are handmade in Japan with genuine passion. The craftsman behind the designer is Ayako’s father, who is a jewelry maker located in Shitamachi, which is one of the oldest craftsmen area of Tokyo.