Yasuhiro Mihara's Japanese Craftsmanship: "Visiting Tomoi" (Part 3)

MIHARAYASUHIRO x TOMOI
Part 2: Visiting TOMOI (3)

Fashion designer Yasuhiro Mihara visits Japan's proud factories and artisans in this groundbreaking series, "MEANING MADE IN JAPAN MIHARAYASUHIRO (MMM)," which aims to create new things that can only be made in Japan.
Mihara visited TOMOI, a button factory in Nara Prefecture. The conversation now delves into the core of original production.

Photos: Kaoru Mizobe (Hawk Eye Visual Works)Photos: Kaoru Mizobe (Hawk Eye Visual Works)Special thanks: Hiroshi Hagino

A Collaboration Harnessing Creativity and Technical Skill

Here, Mihara himself sketched out the design. Individuals from different positions—a designer and a manufacturer—exchanged ideas, leveraging their creativity and technical skills to craft a single item. This was the moment a collaboration transcended industry boundaries.

TomoiTo express overlapping colors, we have blacklip mother-of-pearl with two layers of black and white. How about using that?

MiharaIs that so? That sounds great. Then, let's use that blacklip mother-of-pearl as the base, and add a serrated pattern to the top part.

TomoiI see. I haven't done that kind of design before, but let's give it a try.

Thus, Mihara placed an order with TOMOI on the spot for "MMM = MEANING MADE IN JAPAN MIHARAYASUHIRO" buttons. For now, they decided to proceed with creating samples.

For Mihara, who deepened his understanding of shell buttons during his first factory visit, this encounter likely proved beneficial to his own creative process. The same seems true for Tomoi. It's rare for designers to visit factories themselves, and this order, discussed and received directly, must have been a stimulating experience in manufacturing. Tomoi shared this final thought:

MIHARAYASUHIRO x TOMOI<br><br>Part 2: Visiting TOMOI (3)

An Accessory Beyond Mere "Trimmings" is Completed

TomoiButtons are merely "trimmings" for clothing; people don't typically choose an outfit based on its buttons. However, shell buttons are environmentally friendly, with even the shavings produced during manufacturing becoming fertilizer, posing almost no burden on the environment, which is a current concern. Above all, they possess a natural beauty unique to the material. I hope people consider these aspects, even just a little, when choosing their clothes.

A few days later, the button samples arrived from TOMOI. Mihara was thoroughly satisfied with the results, which closely matched his vision, from the intricate layered structure with its raised and lowered surfaces to the delicate serrated pattern on the top. With a slight adjustment to the thickness, the special shell buttons for "MMM" were complete.

By changing the top part, various expressions and accents can be added to clothing. These can be called accessories that transcend mere "trimmings," born from a factory that Japan is proud of. "MMM" is currently planning apparel that incorporates these shell buttons, so please look forward to their release.

(The End)

The socks created by fashion designer Yasuhiro Mihara prioritize both functionality and natural materials. To achieve both moisture-wicking and quick-drying properties, hemp was blended with cotton. Utilizing variegated yarn with unevenly mixed colorful threads and neps, the socks feature a unique color palette and a brand logo embroidered on the heel to serve as a stylish accent. They are knitted on a 60-gauge knitting machine, resulting in a comfortably loose-fitting sock.
These socks, sold exclusively through the web shopping site "rumors," will have a portion of their proceeds donated to welfare facilities in Tokyo via the Tokyo Charity Bank, operated by the Tokyo Council of Social Welfare, as per the intentions of Mihara and OPENERS.