Fugeiten in Santa Monica : Japanese crafts with modern attitude

We’ll leave from Japan for the United States next week.

And we are going to hold an exhibition called “Fugeiten” in Santa Monica. Let’s meet you in Santa Monica if you are in the suburbs of LA.

Fugeiten

Fugeiten is a project of textile crafts with modern attitude, collaborating with traditional craftmen in the provinces, or making with vintage clothing in japan.
DAY : July 17th(Thurs.) - August 3rd(Sun.) 2008
AT : tortoise

• 1342 1/2 Abbot Kinney Blvd. Vencle,CA 90291 Google Map
• tel : 310-396-7335
• FAX: 310-396-7336
• shop hour: noon-6pm or by appointment closed: Mon/Tue

In this exhibistion we would bring “Koginzashi” bags and crafts. “Koginzashi” is old handcraft In Aomori province, north in Japan. The farm women embroider on hemp in snowy winters.

What’s “Koginzashi”

“Koginzashi” is one of the technique of the quilting to come to Aomori province in north part Japan.

The farmclothes had called “kogin” in Aomori, so it’s called “Koginzashi”. A white cotton thread quilted in a blue “hemp cloth in old days.

History

During the Edo Period (1603-1867), farmers did not wear clothes made of cotton; instead, they wore layers of clothes made from hemp to withstand the cold.

The women from the farming villages then began to stitch cotton thread into the hemp cloth in necessary places to reinforce the fabric and keep the body warm.

The product of these women’s knowledge, those who made a living amongst the harsh nature of the northern country, can be seen today through “koginzashi” embroidery.

“Koginzashi” embroidery is known for its hand stitching technique, in which white cotton thread is stitched through each hole of the indigo-coloured fabric.

Today, either wool or cotton is used depending on the function, and as the colours available and the times have changed, the colour scheme has increased as well.

This beautiful and simple geometric pattern, which continues to be created by hand and stitch-by-stitch, has become a symbol of the strength and delicateness of the women of the northern country.

“Koginzashi” was reevaluated by “Mingei-movement“(Japanese original art movement of a folk-art) about 70 years ago. Now, we’ll do it again.

tortoise: greeting
Mingei (Wikipedia)
koginzashi (Aomori pref.)

Mushroom chair

This terry small chair of mushroom motif is actually for kids,but you will love it if you are mushroom lover.

Ribbon

Design Festa!

Design Festa is a big art event open to all artists.
It is one of the biggest art event in Asia.

You can enjoy every type of arts, live painting, many zakka, performance, SFX make-ups, or something we can’t say what it is ;)

I’d like to share you some kawaii at the festa! Enjoy~!

M Pattern Laboratory : Solid Pattern Maker

If a pattern is good, everyone can make cute & kawaii clothes by all means.  I want to make more beautiful clothes than all ready-made clothes when I make clothes.

M Pattern Laboratory satisfies such a needs. They began pattern sale on web. There are 15 size categories. They will revise the pattern if they don’t have just size.

The pattern is a CAD pattern, and completedly cut. It is a just shoulder, a tight silhouette by three-dimensional cutting. I can make three-dimensional clothes without specific technique.

M Pattern Laboratory

iGoogle ×　A BATHING APE

The most used search engine service in Japan is of course, Google. But here in Japan, Yahoo! Japan has been ranked the top since late 90’s till now, and Google has always been the second.

However, since last year or so, Google has been fiercely catching up Yahoo! Japan. As a unique local strategy to win more market share, Google Japan is promoting itself using famous figures or artists.

This time of “Artist iGoogle” features architects, fashion designers or illustrators who provide the special editions of iGoogle headers or some gadgets. I guess someone like NIGO from A BATHING APE is known out side of Japan, too?

Artist × iGoogle

Towel Cakes ?

I got these cakes from my friend.
The towels are rolled into a cake shape. Fun!

タオルのケーキのプチギフト　「ル・パティシエ」　/ギフト オンリーワン

Skull lover 6 : The Skull and 18K Gold Diamond Earrings

The Skull and 18K Gold Diamond Earrings by UNITED ARROWS. The eyes of the Skull are also
tiny dimamonds which is veyr cute.

UNITED ARROWS

Tabi-shoes : “Tabi-shoes” by sou sou

Remember the “Tabi” type shoes from the Martin Margiela boots or Nike sneakers lines? There is more than Kimono for Japanese traditional clothing, and “Tabi“ is one of them.

The “Tabi-shoes” by sou sou are so comfortable to ware and cute. I bet people can’t help noticing it and telling you “nice shoes!”

sou sou
sou sou web shop

Pentagon Umbrella

Normally an umbrella is hexagon, isn’it? This is a folding umbrella of pentagon! By making it pentagonal shape, it uses lesser ribs thus successfully lighter and smaller.

Additionally because of the less-curved shape, it does not hide the vision as much, so you can see better.

The patterns of the fabric is nice and pretty, too!

アイデアデザインの[ idea ] : 骨を減らして、形を変えて。(Pentagon Umbrella site)

Ribbon Project

“Ribbon Project” is a product development project creating various products using ribbons. A ribbon company based in a local city of Japan, Fukui Prefecture assigns product designers of various businesses and produces tableware or furniture.

lowws　　　　　　　　　designer:hiroyuki kato

An ever-lasting wall calender. made from steel ribbon of 0.1mm thickness. Simply slide the ribbon from one end to mutch the Sundays to dates!

2.8cm　　　　　　designer:makoto yamaguchi

A cutely range inspired by the form ribbon takes when held between the fingers. Unlikely shapes and an astonishing familiarity in handling wikk surprise any user!

tirolean chair　　　　　　designer:naoko matsumoto

A Simple chair, constructed of 16mm piping, is covered entirely in a Tirolean rose-embroidered ribbon.

The products are available at some interior shops in Tokyo as well as from their web shop.

Ribbon Project