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Craft

Page 2

Craft

Making the cut

We join movie directors, curators and yakuza, who all drop in on the young blade keeping alive a centuries-old Japanese craft.

  • Issue #164
  • 4 min read
Sotaro Matsumura working with precision at his whetstone, wearing traditional indigo samue robes in his cedar workshop
Craft

Sharpen up

By listening to its customers, pencil-maker Viarco has secured global fans and healthy profits.

  • Issue #164
  • 9 min read
Sharpen up
Fashion

Greek revival

Young Greeks are returning home to revive family businesses while creative expats discover Athens' sunshine, affordable living and thriving artisan scene.

  • Issue #163
  • 6 min read
Tan leather sandals from Melissinos workshop showing handcrafted construction and simple thong-style design
Art

See the light

In 2014, designers Rita Múrias and Paulo Barata began collecting neon signs for their aesthetic qualities.

  • Issue #162
  • 11 min read
See the light
Product design

Digging it

Getting your hands dirty in the name of cultivating your green patch is that much more pleasing with the right tools. And in Japan they have developed the ultimate garden shed accessories.

  • Issue #162
  • 5 min read
Royal Gardener's Club yellow watering can with retractable lid and long spout against beige background
Travel and restaurants

Hidden gems

The small Japanese town of Yame, and its surrounding countryside, is pulling in visitors with its new inn and craft heritage.

  • Issue #161
  • 10 min read
Traditional Japanese room with tatami floors, exposed wooden beams, paper lantern, low table and built-in shelving
Retail

Paper win

Expert gift wrapper Sayaka Takagi applies a precise finishing touch.

  • Issue #159
  • 1 min read
Sayaka Takagi smiling behind a counter with wrapped gifts at Itoya's Ginza store
Craft

Downhill shuttle

A Scottish ski-maker is carving a niche with his premium kit. We visit a wintry business that’s gaining momentum.

  • Issue #159
  • 5 min read
Jamie Kunka skiing across snowy terrain on a stone bridge in Scotland's Cairngorms mountains
Architecture

Hidden treasures

On a quiet residential street in Japan’s historic capital stands a living monument to the city’s coveted craft traditions.

  • Issue #158
  • 6 min read
Wooden walkway leading through internal courtyard garden with moss-covered ground and traditional Japanese architecture
Craft

Designed for life

One of Japan’s most revered creatives explains why it’s important to ‘elevate the ordinary’ by celebrating the beauty of everyday items.

  • Issue #158
  • 4 min read
Naoto Fukasawa sits in a wooden chair in his minimalist Tokyo studio with white walls and a framed chair artwork

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