“ISETAN LIVING×HIROCOLEDGE” FUROSHIKI│Furoshiki with Isetan's signature fashion-forward flair
“ISETAN LIVING×HIROCOLEDGE”
FUROSHIKI│Isetan’s Fashionable Furoshiki
For the fourth installment of the “ISETAN LIVING×HIROCOLEDGE” feature, Koji Hatta, a buyer for Isetan Living, introduces a new kind of furoshiki.
Portrait by Shiori KawamotoBy Koji Hatta, Isetan Living Department, Specialty Tableware
Deepening Bonds Between Giver and Receiver
In my department, “Belle Écrin” (a shop selecting interior accessories from Japan and around the world), we offer gift wrapping services to support our customers’ personal gift choices (furoshiki are available for a fee).
Recently, we’ve seen an increasing number of such requests, with some customers even ordering gift wrapping with a furoshiki that costs more than the gift itself.
Naturally, the furoshiki used for wrapping is not discarded like wrapping paper but can be used for a long time. Therefore, I thought that if the furoshiki itself had a more compelling story, we could further help deepen the bond between the giver and receiver.
It was around this time that the collaboration with HIROCOLEDGE came about, and we asked them to design a furoshiki that was “fashionable and unlike anything that currently exists.”
During the planning stages, we discussed what kind of materials, dyeing techniques, sizes, and design variations would be used for production.
The furoshiki that sell well in stores are made of polyester, which resists wrinkling, and are typically 35–50 cm square, costing around 1,000 yen. However, this time, to create a furoshiki with added value that would please both the giver and receiver, we decided to use silk chirimen fabric and, while maintaining the popular sizes, also offer a slightly larger size for greater usability.
For the dyeing method, we used inkjet printing, a cutting-edge technology that Japan proudly offers to the world. This resulted in a completely new furoshiki, featuring the sharp, distinctive circles and lines characteristic of HIROCOLEDGE.
Points we particularly want to draw your attention to are:
(1) Designs requiring the precision of inkjet printing
(2) Multi-color use with subtle tonal variations
(3) Designs conceived with wrapping in mind
Challenging the Possibilities of Design with New Inkjet Technology
—What are your impressions of Riko Takahashi’s work?
I deeply respect her ability to push the boundaries of existing manufacturing methods to create new design value.
Of course, her previously released designs, such as those for kimonos, which use single or limited colors to express lines and curves, are wonderful designs imbued with an international sensibility of Japanese spirit. However, this new work, which challenges the possibilities of design with the latest inkjet technology, expresses a new worldview for HIROCOLEDGE.
—Regarding this “ISETAN LIVING×HIROCOLEDGE” project
Koji Hatta
I believe it is important for us to create new products ourselves in order to meet the expectations of Isetan Living’s customers.
While we have had collaborative projects with individual designers for single items before, the realization of this project, which involves collaboration with a single designer across multiple categories for the first time, is a testament to the shared vision among our buyers of what Isetan Living should offer customers now. Above all, I believe it was made possible by our admiration for Riko Takahashi’s design philosophy and her personal character.
Leveraging the experience gained from these new initiatives, we aim for further advancement in the future.
—Sales will begin on Wednesday, March 4th.
We are currently preparing to ensure the highest quality and to bring joy to our customers.
During the event, we hope that not only HIROCOLEDGE fans but also many customers with a keen fashion sense across all aspects of life—food, clothing, and shelter—will experience the world of HIROCOLEDGE × ISETAN, featuring items meticulously crafted by each department.
The furoshiki produced for this collaboration are proposed as wrapping paper that can be cherished forever. With the intention of offering them as exquisite furoshiki for gift wrapping, and to allow people to experience the thoughtfulness, elegance, and texture of traditional furoshiki, we have made them from pure silk.
While the traditional techniques, imbued with the skill of artisans and the warmth of handcraftsmanship, are certainly appealing, the manufacturer suggested that inkjet printing would be suitable for my patterns, which require precision with many perfect circles and straight lines. Therefore, rather than adhering strictly to traditional techniques or the conventional concept of furoshiki, I attempted to design them as a single piece of cloth that could be used for various purposes.
By leveraging the properties of silk, a material gentle on the skin, we have created items that can also be used as scarves, not just for wrapping.
