Openers Series | Hiroshi Maruwaka's "Travel Mono" -Metal Gem ~ ｜ Guest Maiko Kawachi ｜ THREEBOND

Serialization "Extraordinary Goods"｜Hirotoshi Maruwaka's "Travel Monogatari" with guests, the third person in the company｜Maiko Kurogouchi ("mame" designer)

Travel is everyday life, from everyday life What you get (1)

Mr. Hirotoshi Maruwaka, CEO of Maruwakaya, produces products that combine traditional craftsmanship with the latest technology. With him as the host, a series of articles will begin in which different guests each time bring “items to accompany them on their trip” and talk about their trips. This series is supported by the idea that “Travel has the power to bring people together. This is ThreeBond, a manufacturer of industrial sealants and adhesives. The third guest is Maiko Kurogouchi, a designer who started her own brand "mame" in 2010 after working in charge of planning and design for the Issey Miyake Paris Collection.

*The title "Dougyo Ippin" is inspired by the words of the Shikoku pilgrimage, "Two companions." It is a word that is written on hats, etc., in the sense that they are always on a pilgrimage with Kobo Daishi. It expresses the image of a person's journey along with carefully selected items.

Photographs by JAMANDFIXText by KASE Tomoshige (OPENERS)

Junji Tanigawa (Representative of JTQ Co., Ltd.)

Supporter｜Kosaku Tsuchida (Director, ThreeBond Holdings Co., Ltd.)

Wear clothes that you designed

Maruwaka: I think there are several patterns of travel. Going to a rural area for work is a trip, and going abroad for personal reasons is, of course, a trip.

Kurogochi: In my case, my goal is work, and most of my destinations are rural areas in Japan. Specifically, I will visit factories and craftsmen. I can hardly decide where to stay.

Inspiration is limited when you're sitting at your desk all the time. Rather than that, it is more interesting to go to the site and listen to the story. Sometimes I'm not in Tokyo for more than half the month. With a laptop, you can work anywhere. It is an image of going around the countryside while interacting with Tokyo.

Maruwaka: The reason I started this series in the first place was to verify that "travel is personal." If you listen to the story of the person's journey, you can see the personality of the person. I have interviewed various people so far, but I was able to see more personal parts than I imagined.

"mame" Designer Maiko Kurogouchi

Mame brand cardigan by Mr. Kurogochi

Kurogochi: In my case, I always have a set that I take with me on my trips. I have picked out a few of them. First, this black cardigan (*1). Because it's often cold inside the Shinkansen and buses that move.

Well, I run a brand called "mame"...

It's my own brand, but it's a cardigan I made because I wanted to wear it. Made of 100% silk, this detachable collar is also made of silk. It has a design that "looks neat" and is made with an emphasis on ease of use.

This cardigan is embroidered in Kiryu, Gunma Prefecture... but when I go to the factory that made it, even if it's a flashy dress, I try to wear it. increase.

In many cases, the people who actually make the clothes, such as those who make the collars or do the partial embroidery, don't know what the clothes will look like in the end. I sometimes send pictures of the finished clothes, but not everyone can see them. That's why it's easier to communicate when you wear it and say, "I've got this kind of clothes."

Maruwaka: I think the motivation of the creators will also change. However, I also like black clothes, but if I wear them for a long time while traveling, won't dust and dirt stand out?

Kurogochi: I carry a portable cleaner with me. As for the other clothes, it goes without saying that they are easy to move around in, but I also bring beautiful blouses and dresses that can be used when I go out to eat while traveling.

Put clothes in compression bags to make them smaller and carry them around. When I get to the hotel, I hang it on a hanger and spray it with a wrinkle-removing spray.

Maruwaka: I've heard stories from various people in this series, but Mr. Kurogochi's how-to this time is especially useful for girls.

Blue bottle mineral water "Solan de Cabras" (ThreeBond Trading Co., Ltd. http://www.threebond-trading.co.jp/)

Kurogochi: I also keep the size of the bag I carry as small as possible. It's a rucksack or tote bag, so you don't have to leave it in when you move, and make it a portable size. But girls have a lot of baggage on their trips.

Maruwaka: That's right. Our female staff also had a lot of luggage, even though she was staying overnight in Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Kurogochi: I think you'll get tired if you have a lot of luggage. Basically, I work alone, and I suddenly decide, "Let's go to Ishikawa (prefecture) now!" You always want to be comfortable. If it's just for one night, I'll go with just an eco bag that can hold A4 documents.

Sleep well

Kurogochi: I don't decide where to stay in advance, so I'm really indebted to the "Tonight's accommodation reservation by Jalan" iPhone app. It is an application to search for accommodation where you can stay from your current location. At times like that, I carry organic oils (*2) that can be used on babies so that I can relax no matter what kind of space I stay.

Maruwaka: How will you use it?

Kurogochi: You can put it in the bath or put it on your pillow when you go to sleep. I feel like I can sleep well. I actually use it at home too.

Maruwaka: Smell is an important factor.

Kurogochi: Traveling is tiring. If you don't rest properly when you sleep, your plans for the next day will be ruined.

Erbaviva's "Bath Essence"

A novel that accompanies you on your journey. "Kokoro" by Soseki Natsume

Maruwaka: I think it's really important not to leave fatigue behind. Also, I asked a little bit about the books (*3) that you bring on your trips before the interview.

Kurogochi: The paperback book I brought today ("Kokoro" Natsume Soseki) belongs to a friend. When I'm in Tokyo, I read a lot of books, but when I travel, I try to buy novels. You can buy it on a whim before departure at a station shop.

When the trip ends, so does the novel. Strangely, the contents of the book and the trip are linked. Then the book will be part of the memories of the trip.

Maruwaka 　Including such memories, I think that the brand "mame" will be born from a trip.

Kurogouchi I think so.

*1 A silk cardigan that boasts high popularity as a staple of "mame". 44,100 yen (Maiko Kurogochi Design Office http://www.mamemamemame.com)

*2 Erbaviva, a brand that handles organic skin care products, was born in California in 1996. Kurogochi's favorite "Nighty Night His Bath Essence" is a blend of organic essential oils such as chamomile and lavender, which is said to have the effect of inducing a restful and calm sleep.

*3 When you travel, you often buy novels. It is said that even shops at stations where there are few options are not particular about purchasing.

Serialization "Travel Goods"｜Hirotoshi Maruwaka's "Travel Monogatari" The third member of the company｜Maiko Kurogouchi ("mame" designer) 2)

* "Dougyyou Ippin" is a title inspired by the words of the Shikoku pilgrimage, "Dougyo ninin". It is a word that is written on hats, etc., in the sense that they are always on a pilgrimage with Kobo Daishi. It expresses the image of a person's journey along with carefully selected items.

Photographs by JAMANDFIXText by KASE Tomoshige (OPENERS)

The effectiveness of notebooks

Maruwaka: I'm going to say something that overturns the premise of this series, but if you thoroughly strip down what you bring on your trip, if you're in Japan, you'll have an iPhone. And I think it would be nice if there was "suica". No matter where you go in Japan, there are convenience stores, so there is no need to worry. Other than those two things, I think it depends on what you want to do.

Kurogouchi: I really think so. If you have a wallet and an iPhone, you can do without a computer for a short period of time.

Maruwaka 　Mr. Kurogouchi brought me in such a situation, and when I look at it, I think that the best partner is the notebook.

Kurogochi: I always carry a Moleskine notebook (*4), but it is absolutely necessary, especially when traveling. I use one book every season, and I write in it like a memoir. For example, sketching a flower that left an impression on the spot while traveling. Certainly the most important thing.

Maruwaka Why is Moleskine notebook?

Kurogochi: I like how this soft cover softens as you get used to it. Still, even if you support it with your hand, it is easy to write without distorting the notebook. After trying many different things, Moleskine was the one with the firmness of the cover that I could write on immediately no matter what condition I was in. By the way, this season, I chose a size smaller than usual.

Moleskine notebook. It is said that he started using a slightly smaller size from this season

Written notes, drawings, etc.

Maruwaka: How about making it smaller?

Kurogouchi: Surprisingly, there is no inconvenience. The notebook is the biggest thing I carry around, so I tried to make it smaller. And although I didn't bring it with me today, I like the 2B "Tombo" pencils or the "Tsukushi Enpitsu" from the Tsukushi stationery store in Kunitachi because they have thick shafts. Maruwaka-san, what do you use to take notes?

Maruwaka: Sometimes I memorize things in my head, but sometimes there are details that I would prefer to write down, and sometimes I write them down on my computer like meeting minutes. I haven't decided. However, I feel that writing with a pen or pencil will remain in my memory.

Kurogochi: I think it's good to manage schedules and system-related things on a mobile phone or computer, but for other things, I prefer paper. For recording, I bring this notebook, my iPhone camera, and my Lumix digital camera.

Not professional and easy to use. If it's too difficult, I'll miss the "moment I want to capture".

You can't create a brand if you don't enjoy traveling

Kurogochi One day, he wondered, "What is my roots, Kurogochi?" I've been there before.

I heard a lot of stories from my grandmother. About her family history, the environment she grew up in, the war, and her life. Grandmothers are familiar to us, but surprisingly, there are many things we don't know about them.

Maruwaka: I don't know much about my grandfather and grandmother.

Kurogochi: Then I recorded my grandmother's life. Seasoning simmered dishes and sketching dishes. (pointing to a sketch in her notebook) This is a picture of a flower in my grandmother's garden. I also made a print pattern based on this flower. In the end, the season reflecting life in Nagano became a collection called “Personal Memory”. The act of taking notes and listening to my grandmother at that time was very important.

Maruwaka 　Hearing that story, I think that Mr. Kurokochi digests the ordinary and the extraordinary of traveling on the same level to create an original worldview.

Kurogochi: For me, the most stimulating thing is "daily life", and I think that there is a very interesting feeling in things that are too obvious to notice.

Now, looking at the pattern of the part of the curtain where the light shines through (in the room I am interviewing), I thought of making a lattice fabric by embroidering all over the cotton. or Or, looking at the contrast of the wood grain on this desk, how about dyeing it with vegetable dyes?

While walking and traveling every day, I think about such things. Rather than special experiences, it is more important to feel the daily life of the land you traveled to.

Maruwaka　Perhaps people who like mame's clothes feel that "daily life". In a sense, I think that Mr. Kurokochi's personality is manifested in the fact that even though there are many well-designed clothes, you can feel everyday life.

Kurogochi: Everyday life changes depending on how you perceive it. In my collection, there are wrinkle-resistant polyester dresses, as well as stretchy cut and sewn clothes that are easy to wear when traveling. What they all have in common is that they should not be too casual.

Whether you are a working woman or a woman with a family, it blends into your daily life, but something a little more special makes you feel real. In that sense, this clutch bag (*5) may be the item that best expresses that feeling.

One of the representative items of "mame", the PVC clutch bag

A small and beautiful bag like this will come in handy when you go out to eat with people you meet while traveling.

Maruwaka: That's precisely because she's a woman.

Kurogochi 　It feels like a local, not a traveler. Yet, it is a bag that expresses "mame is such a brand".

Even if your clothes are knitted or a little casual, you can express mame's world view just by holding this bag. And in order to fit it in this clutch bag, I replace the long wallet I usually use when traveling with this Camille Forne small wallet (*6).

When you go to a factory or meet a craftsman, the other person wonders, "Who the hell is this little girl?" At that time, I need mame clothes and bags in the sense of presenting myself.

Even if we are designers, our work would be nothing if there were no craftsmen or factory workers to make clothes on site. I would like to make use of the experience of going to the site to create new things.

Maruwaka: That's wonderful. For example, rather than asking Kurogochi-san over a meal and asking, "What do you think about your trip?" That's more interesting, and it was.

Kurogouchi 　Mr. Maruwaka seems to have many people traveling around him.

Maruwaka: Actually, there are many. However, this is also one of the things I wanted to say in this series -- I think there are many people who say, "You can't go on a trip," but I think that going from home to the office is also a trip. It's a matter of feeling.

Camille Fournet wallet

Kurogochi: I also think that distance and time are not proportional to the sense of travel. For me, going to Asakusa is also a trip. I think it's important to enjoy that feeling. If I lose the excitement of traveling, I probably won't be able to create a brand anymore.

I also like music and art, but I think the beauty of the setting sun while traveling is more useful for making things. I think it was my parents who raised me with that feeling, and I want to continue to cherish that feeling.

Maruwaka 　The person reading this series sees mame's collection. That's a good thing, and I think people who haven't read it will have a different impression. It is said that there is something plus alpha in beautiful things and fashionable things.

It is a feeling that touches "why mame was born". I don't think you need to know the details, but in a sense, I think it will create a way for the recipient to enjoy things that fast fashion doesn't have.

Kurogochi: There are so many cheap and cute things out there now--I have absolutely no intention of denying that. However, in such a situation, what is the meaning of creating a brand? There is a story of making things, and I think it's a wonderful thing that can't be replaced with money.

Things born from such a place become my memories. Looking back on this interview, I realized that there are many jobs that are triggered by travel.

Maruwaka 　Having talked to you this time, I feel that you are really enjoying your trip. thank you very much.

*4 A Moleskine notebook with simple yet sufficient functions, such as a sturdy cover, an elastic band to hold the cover in place, and a bookmark that shows where it was used. The hard cover type is well known, but Mr. Kurogouchi uses the soft cover type. Until now, they used the "X-large", which is 19 cm wide and 25 cm high, but they are currently trying a slightly smaller type called "Large", which is 13 cm wide and 21 cm wide.

*5 One of the representative items of "mame" is the PVC (polyvinyl chloride) clutch bag. 52,500 yen (Maiko Kurogouchi Design Office http://www.mamemamemame.com)

*6 Camille Fournet, a leather goods manufacturer founded in Paris, France in 1945. It is also a factory that handles genuine belts for many top watch manufacturers. A standard coin purse is used as a wallet for travel.

Maiko Kurogouchi｜KUROGOUCHI Maiko

After experiencing A-POC planning and planning and design for the Issey Miyake Paris Collection at Miyake Design Office Co., Ltd., established Kurogouchi Design Office in 2010. In addition to his own brand "mame", in 2011 he created "sample project" using waste materials to create new things, and in 2012 DESIGNTIDE TOKYO Japan-UK exhibition "Mark-ing". I'm joining.

Hirotoshi Maruwaka｜MARUWAKA Hirotoshi

Born in 1979. Born in Tokyo. Representative of "Maruwakaya Co., Ltd.", which provides modern Japanese culture. By incorporating the universal "beauty" and the "moment" of the present into things and things, we derive modern values. From traditional crafts to working with cutting-edge industries such as "Kitajima Shibori Seisakusho", we carry out "manufacturing" with the highest peak in Japan. Led the “Kutani Ware Skull Candy Pot” (21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa), “Kamide Choemon Kiln x JAIMEHAYON” (exhibited at Milano Salone), and “PUMA AROUND THE BENTO BOX”. http://maru-waka.com/

[Serialization "Deliver Goods" Supporter]

TSUCHIDA Kosaku

Born in 1977. Born in Tokyo. Director of ThreeBond Holdings Co., Ltd. and President of ThreeBond Fine Chemicals Co., Ltd. We plan to investigate and research the mechanism that creates bonds between people. Through interviews with people who are active in various fields, I will work hard on research that not only connects things but also people. The connection with Mr. Maruwaka was also born from the “sticky bond mechanism” (“ThreeBond presents sticky bond mechanism website” http://929kizuna.com/). Currently, as an activity that has developed this project, "Creators' Bonding" is being developed.

"Creators' Bonding Web" http://www.creators-bonding.com/

Junji Tanigawa (Representative of JTQ Co., Ltd.)

Supporter｜Kosaku Tsuchida (Director, ThreeBond Holdings Co., Ltd.)

Threebondhttp://www.threebond.co.jp/

Manufacturer of industrial sealants and adhesives. With a regional management system that divides the world into six regions, Japan/Asia/China/Europe/North and Central America/South America, we are expanding globally in various fields such as the automobile industry, the electrical and electronic industry, and the infrastructure industry. there is

Maruwakaya

http://maru-waka.com/

http://h-maruwaka.blog.openers.jp/

https://www.facebook.com/maruwakaya

Products created by Maruwakaya are now available on the official Sumally page "Enyu-an"

http://sumally.com/maruwakaya_enyuan