Natural selection
A craft-centred collection from a new Japanese furniture brand
A balance of simplicity and strength underpins the launch collection of new Japanese brand Koyori, which includes three chairs by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec and two by Gamfratesi.
‘We aim to deliver furniture of reliable quality and interior accessories that are elegant, with designs that transcend borders,’ says Munetoshi Koda, Koyori’s executive director.
The Bouroullecs tapped into their passion for Japan and its unique craftindustry dynamic. Fluidity of form defines their ‘Kawara’ armchair for the new brand, in which sweeps of oak plywood flow organically into wave-like curves, forming the backbone of a chair that is cocooning and clean-lined. They also created the ‘Musubi’ chair, with sensual lines inspired by the work of Sori Yanagi, and the sleek and simple ‘Shaku’ chair. ‘We wanted to reveal the beauty of the wood and the craftsmanship, and the connection between them,’ say the brothers.
Gamfratesi, meanwhile, designed the ‘Miau’ chair to show the transformative powers of wood, and the ‘Edaha’ chair as a homage to nature. ‘We hope that, in their everyday life, people will feel the respect, passion and quality radiated by the craftsmanship of the Koyori products,’ say studio founders Stine Gam and Enrico Fratesi.
‘We are launching Koyori with wood furniture, but our goal is to become a brand that carries a variety of lifestyle products,’ adds Koda.
Koyori will launch at Triennale Milano during Milan Design Week, 7–12 June, koyori-jp.com