Orizzonte 02 Card Case

The idea of transforming discarded yellowtail skin into luxury leather is not originally mine. My inspiration came from encountering fish leather and resonating with the phrase “sustainable manufacturing that does not waste the blessings of life” from those involved in fish leather production. This connection led me to consider creating items using fish leather.One day, while fishing before sunrise and watching the ocean during the “blue hour,” when the world is bathed in blue, I wondered if I could create leather items that express the waves of the sea and the changing sky through fish leather and gradient effects.Leather from cattle and other animals is also a by-product of meat culture, which means it is, in fact, a sustainable material. By using fish leather derived from "fish," which is commonly found on Japanese dining tables, it becomes easier to visualize the concept of a by-product.Through fish leather, I hope to encourage many people to reflect on waste and the by-products of meat culture in leather products.

While fishing before sunrise and watching the ocean during the enchanting moment known as the "blue hour," I was inspired to think about whether I could create leather items that express the waves of the sea using fish leather, while utilizing gradient effects to represent the changing colors of the sky.I realized that the scale patterns of fish leather not only resemble waves but also signify the creatures that inhabit the ocean, allowing it to effectively represent the sea itself.Additionally, I believed that a gradient effect was essential for capturing the nuances of the sky's hues. This led me to consider various methods for dyeing the leather to achieve the desired gradient, ensuring that the final product reflected the beautiful transitions of color that occur at dawn.

The "Fu-kin-machi" is a unique traditional technique in Japan, distinguished by its characteristics of being "thin" and offering "ease of use."The key feature of Fu-kin-machi lies in its design: unlike the standard "accordion gusset" (Jabara-machi), which folds the partitions inward (valley fold), the Fu-kin-machi folds outward (mountain fold). This design allows cards and other items to be easily inserted and removed without snagging, while also allowing for a thinner finish.Creating Fu-kin-machi requires more pattern pieces than standard accordion gussets, and it necessitates precise adjustments to the leather thickness down to 0.1 mm, as well as meticulous cutting. This complexity demands advanced skills and considerable effort, making it unsuitable for mass production. Consequently, there are very few workshops that continue to pass down this technique today.The Fu-kin-machi is not only aesthetically pleasing but also functionally superior, which is why it is rarely seen—there are very few artisans capable of producing it. While there are imitations that simply create gussets with mountain folds, true Fu-kin-machi embodies the delicate aesthetic sense and meticulous craftsmanship that characterize Japanese tradition. It is a unique cultural heritage that we must preserve for future generations.My desire to carry on the tradition of the Fu-kin-machi was a significant factor in my decision to incorporate this technique into my designs.