The Japanese design Pop-Up Shop returns to Archiproducts Milano

A ladle that stands on its own saucer, a goofy silicone human face on which to unload any residual pre-Milan-Design-Week stress, a shoehorn in the shape of a potato chip, alongside eco-friendly accessories sporting clean, pure lines and made from fossil material. Ever quirky, ever minimal, Japanese design returns to Milan during Design Week with a Pop-Up Shop whose offerings are entirely Made in Japan.

For the fourth year running the Archiproducts space in via Tortona hosts a little Japanese island among the industrial courtyards of Opificio 31. Here visitors will be able to buy objects by +d, soil, hmny and CORGA, the four brands that make up H Concept. Born of the creative mind of designer Hideyoshi Nagoya, the tetrad company has always been bent on design that understands and caters to people and their necessities.

The selection brings together functionality, minimalism and kawaisa – the cult that worships all things cute and graceful. Its small objects are seemingly simple, with a touch of the bizarre. But take a closer look: these are real design projects whose purpose is to stimulate creativity and gumption.

+d looks beyond the concept of functionality with its simple, fun objects. Founded in Tokyo in 2002, the brand has brought into its circle some of the most talented Japanese designers on the scene. From their silicone umbrella holders that recall the form of water stains, to animals rambling among the pages of books: +d’s design is the physical demonstration of how an object can bring joy while maintaining that essential quality, in its form and function, that is so idiosyncratically Nipponic.

This year +d brings to Milan the evocative atmosphere of the cherry tree blossoms of Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. ‘Kaze guru ma Sakura’ is a delicate magnetic cherry flower that adds a touch of Spring to any home environment.

While +d privileges materials like silicone, synthetic rubber and glass fibers, Soil focuses its production on the use of natural materials obtained by processing diatomaceous earth, a porous and absorbent fossil flour, that is both eco-friendly and totally recyclable. It is also ideal for the realization of accessories which are often in contact with humidity, such as food containers, soap dishes and toothbrush holders, bathroom rugs and anti-humidity sachets for shoes. The essential forms and the delicate palette are perfectly in line with the stylistic elements of Japanese minimalism.

Since 1961, hmny and CORGA have created accessories handcrafted by the artisans of the Kagawa prefecture, an area of Japan known for its production of leather gloves. Inspired by leather crafting techniques, the two brands focus on bags, laptop cases and small accessories with pure, elemental lines.

This is the new creative scene of easy-to-use product development that fully mirrors Japanese design culture. Rigorous execution melds with tongue-in-cheek humor through products developed and made in Japan. Come and discover them during the Milan Design Week in the Archiproducts Milano spaces!