Although Japanese leatherworking predates the Edo Period (1603-1868), it’s not high on the list of the made-in-Japan crafts known worldwide. Nevertheless, despite the lack of star power, the nation still boasts major hubs of leather manufacturing, predominantly in Hyogo Prefecture and Tokyo, most of which produce high-end items for the fashion and interior industries. On: Design takes a look at three products that debuted last month at the Designart festival and rethink leather in contemporary design.

Design studio M&T’s L.F.M. (Leather Fiber Molding) desk organizers and trinket trays are made from factory waste leather that has been shredded into fibers and molded into unusual three-dimensional forms. | AYAKO ENDO
Design studio M&T’s L.F.M. (Leather Fiber Molding) desk organizers and trinket trays are made from factory waste leather that has been shredded into fibers and molded into unusual three-dimensional forms. | AYAKO ENDO

Molding new ideas