Hirameki Design x Finland

Last night, after being out all day in the wind and rain, we headed to the Living Design Centre Ozone in Shinjuku with sodden feet, feeling a little down hearted and pretty cold. But what was there, changed my mood instantly. Hirameki Design x Finland is one of the first times Finnish design has been showcased to a Japanese audience and it was a delight to see a combination of fashion, furniture, product and textiles on display all in one place. The last few weeks I have been thinking about the similarities between Japanese and Scandanavian/Nordic design so this exhibition gave me a good insight into the common cultures between Finland and Japan. Looking around the showroom was great and I loved pretty much everything but the fashion show was definitely the highlight. One of my favourite designers was Satu Maaranen. Her pieces skillfully combined texture and different fabrics with playful approach to proportion and scale. It was really good to see such a focus on the textile detail in a fashion context. More news to come about this event!

Ps. Ok, so turns out that 'bit of wind and rain' was Typhoon Chaba making its way across Tokyo.

Colobockle

So in Japan it seems one of the best ways to compliment someone is to say they are 'cute' and alongside that, as you might expect, there are lots of cute and colourful cartoons and characters that advertise, decorate and fill the shops over here. So in my opinion this is one of the cutest illustrators I have come across in a while. This is Colobockle, I stumbled across the brand in a lovely little shop in the Daikanyama district of Tokyo and I am dying to visit the original shop before I leave. I love the cut and stick nature of the characters and illustrations and the vintage styling of the shop. One of these characters will be coming home in my suitcase!

These photos are via this blog.

I Just Can't Get Enough...

Love Love Love these designs for the S/S 2011 Collection. Thank you Mr Eley and Mrs Kishimoto, for some wonderful eye candy! I would like every one please!

Smith's the Word...

So I couldn't really visit Japan courtesy of Paul Smith and not give him a mention, could I? Last week we got the chance to catch up with him a few times on his speedy trip over here. He was in Tokyo to for the launch of his A/W 2011 menswear and womenswear collections in what they call a Tenjikai, where stockist come to view and select pieces for their shop. It was great to see the new collections in person and hear about his inspiration and tips for success. After that we got whisked off to have a look around the showroom and also watched over whilst he played with a a group of kids for the photoshoot of his new childrenswear collection. We enjoyed the final hours of day one on the garden roof top and listened to the 5o'clock chimes that ring around tokyo every evening. Great fun and great to chat to a really friendly and down to earth guy.

We were also lucky enough to be invited to the opening of his new store in Marunouchi, where, I have to say I was particularly interested in the visual merchandising! A great use of traditional features alongside contemporary colour, but no suprise there! On another note, he also recently teamed up with local Sheffield artist, Pete Mckee, helping him promote his work over here in Japan. You can visit Pete's website here.

Spread the Word...

For all you facebook users out there you can now become a fan of Fison-Zair by clicking right here. Please help spread the word! Or of course you can also see and find out more via the website.

Treasure Hunt...

I love to come across conceptual designers who utilise everyday objects to create wonderful masterpieces. These works of art are by Stuart Haygarth and I think they hold greater impact once you discover what they are made of. One object on its own can seem precious or even useless, but a collection seen from different perspectives and angles can have much greater impact.

'Starting in 2004 I have been working on design projects which revolve around the collections of objects. The objects are normally collected in large quantities categorized and assembled in a way that transforms their meaning. My work is about giving banal and overlooked objects a new significance.' SH

I am forever scouting flea markets, car boot sales and second-hand stores for items that catch my eye. I have no special need for anything, however, I just cannot resist rescuing objects that tell a story or provoke a once-loved feeling. Maybe this is one reason I like to construct my designs out of objects....it gives me an excuse to keep treasure hunting!

Eley Kishimoto...

Love the styling and prints for the A/W 2010/11 Eley Kishimoto Collection.

Kisho Kurokawa...

Last week we took a trip to The National Arts Centre of Tokyo in Roppongi to catch an exhibition about shadows. The exhibition was a good insight into the way artists interpret shadows, the roles they play and the type of expressions they have inspired. However, what really captured my imagination was the space within the Arts Centre. The architecture, designed by Kisho Kurokawa, was really impressive. The interior of building had a haunting, industrial feel about it contrast against an undualating, organic facade. We caught it at just the right time of the day, when the sun was beginning to lower in the sky, creating great long shadows. I particularly like the choice of seating too! My favourite is the Three-legged Shell Chair by Hans.J Wegner.

Vintage Kimono Silks.

Today I visited the textile district of Tokyo, in Nippori, and came across some great shops selling pieces of vintage kimono fabric. Here are a few pieces I couldn't resist buying for my colour research.

Japan Living...

Tendo

Zataku

So, I'm currently living in a traditional Japanese house, with rice mat flooring, sliding paper doors and fold-away matresses. And apart from the odd cockroach or two, I'm actually getting quite used to the multifunctional living arrangement. I have found out that because housing is so expensive in Japan, large families can quite often live together in a very small space, so the rooms need to be as flexible as possible to accommodate their needs. This could be one explanation for the slick, minimal design that comes from Japan. For my last project I was interested in the multifunctional aspect of living space and produced large, colourful, floor cushions, enabling the owner to move, stack and adapt the order of the printed textiles to reflect the character or atmosphere for the intended use of the room. I am interested in continuing with this concept in my masters research. The traditional Japanese floor seating arrangement is something I have been looking into and will continue to explore.

A Feast for the Eyes...

One of my favourite things to do on a Sunday, even when I'm in another country, is visit the local flea markets. This one in Ginza, Tokyo, was great for a good look around and a rummage through traditional toys, vintage kimonos and old Japanese postcards. And of course I picked up a few goodies to take home with me!

Matt Pugh...

I am really liking the work of Matt Pugh at the moment. I have come across it a number of times but finally managed to fit the design with the designer! Yay! In my next project I really fancy working with wood with paint detailing, so these pieces are really inspiring! The natural and paint lacquered finishes really compliment each other and add a contemporary twist to the traditional materials. Oh dear! Christmas List has begun already!

Tokyo Heart...

Wow! A week ago today I arrived in Tokyo and what a week it has been! As part of my Masters I am taking part in a two month exchange with students from Bunka University, a specialist fashion university in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo. I spent the first few days, overcoming my jet-lag and trying to take in all the new sights and sounds of the Japanese culture. This week I had met many of the polite and extremely helpful faculty in the university, learnt how to tie a traditional kimono, sampled sushi, visited many temples, witnessed a traditional wedding and had my first Japanese lesson! Plus much much more, which I will report on in the coming weeks. I have already taken an overwhelming amount of photographs which I will continue to post over the next two months. This is merely bye-bye and not sayonara!

Eye Test...

Because at the moment I have very little chance of getting my hands on an original Finn Juhl or Hans J. Wegner, I have been on the search for the perfect poster, so my love of Danish designed chairs can feature somewhere in my home. Here are a couple of my favourites by Blue Art Studio.