"hide k 1896" offers items made with the new soft carbon material｜hide k 1896

hide k 1896

Discover Items Where Technology Meets Craftsmanship

Introducing "hide k 1896," a brand offering items crafted from their new soft carbon material. These stylish products integrate industrial materials into everyday life. The brand's world is now tangible at "gallery de kasuga," a newly opened space in Omotesando, Tokyo, which is also worth a visit.

Text by WASEDA Kosaku (OPENERS)

A Material Born from Rigorous Research

"hide k 1896" (pronounced Hide-Kei 1896) is a carbon brand with origins in a hemp trading company founded in 1896. While carbon is typically used in industrial products, the brand features items made with "soft carbon," a new material developed by its representative, Hideyuki Kasuga.

Born from the desire to "bring carbon textiles closer to people, conveying their inherent suppleness and charm," soft carbon is lightweight and durable, challenging the conventional image of carbon as a rigid material.

It was discovered that by encasing carbon fibers in a special material, a soft carbon sheet could be created. Through continued trial and error, the material was further refined to be suitable for sewing.

The brand has previously collaborated with Lexus, Leica, and The Okura Tokyo, releasing limited-edition items.

The unifying appeal of these items lies in the seamless fusion of carbon and leather, two vastly different materials, creating styles unattainable with leather alone.

The collection includes a wide range of products such as card cases, wallets, and bags, suitable for both business and casual occasions.

Introducing "gallery de kasuga," a Space to Experience the Brand's World

"gallery de kasuga," a new concept retail complex, opened in November 2019. It primarily showcases "hide k 1896" and "BLANC BIJOU PARIS" (a brand of eternal white from Paris), and also functions as a gallery exhibiting contemporary art.

The space was established with the concept of "fusing the tradition and innovation of Japanese craftsmanship," leveraging the global sensibility cultivated by Mr. Kasuga during his time in the South of France and Paris as a researcher.

"BLANC BIJOU" is a brand founded in Paris in 2009. It expresses "eternal whiteness" and "smooth texture" using PTFE, a material derived from fluorite. The brand offers items across categories such as art, tableware, and fine jewelry.

Additionally, the facility features a gallery displaying and selling global art pieces centered around the theme of "materials," including Mr. Kasuga's art collection, as well as a floor for exhibiting and selling books and art books curated under the theme of "SCIENCE to ART."

In the evenings, "Academia," hosted by Mr. Kasuga, is regularly held with themes such as "Science," "Art," "Business," and "SDGs." The aim is to share new knowledge based on real-world examples from various industries, inviting diverse guest speakers.