About three years ago in the middle of a meeting, without so much as a warning, Mr. Motoike showed me the original version (a trial leather sample that came before this work), saying “I want you to have a look at this”. The feel and appearance of this leather was astounding, and in my career I’ve never once seen leather that had the texture that this leather possessed. Not able to imagine what one would need to do in order get such a result, I inquired.

“I used urushi.”

In Japan, shippi was only acknowledged as an old “technique that is used for change in coloration and endurance”. In fashion business, I’ve dealt with leather goods from countries all across the globe, but I’ve never seen or even touched leather of this kind.

Traditional leather making draws very clear lines. The expression created through applying layers on layers of urushi is not simply something that was a reenactment of the shippi that existed since the Asuka Period, but something like a different class of expression that resulted from testing the fusion of a natural leather material and Japanese lacquer that Motoike Daisuke did as a craftsmen. He has been acquainted with leather since early childhood, close to 40 years. I strongly feel that it is a material that was realized specifically because it was done by him, who possesses exceptional skill, knowledge and experience.

So how will Mr. Motoike and I go about our production while sensing the great potential that this material has in a significant way.
We are getting acquainted with this new material in search for an answer to that question.