Preserving Japan's Seaweed Heritage: 'Less, Light, Local' Revives Discarded ITA NORI
Reviving Japan's Seaweed Heritage: 'Less, Light, Local' Exhibition Experience the 'Less, Light, Local' exhibition, a groundbreaking project that breathes new life into discarded ITA NORI, preserving Japan's rich seaweed heritage. Discover how innovative design and locally sourced materials transform overlooked seaweed sheets into captivating creations with renewed sustainability.
Japan's esteemed seaweed processing tradition faces a significant hurdle as climate change disrupts seaweed growth and quality. Notably, the beloved ittori nori seaweed sheet has become increasingly inedible due to adverse ocean conditions. However, a groundbreaking initiative known as 'Less, Light, Local' seeks to breathe new life into discarded ITA NORI by showcasing its sustainable potential through innovative design and locally sourced materials.
Revitalizing Discarded ITA NORI: In response to this urgent issue, the groundbreaking 'Less, Light, Local' project steps onto the stage, aiming to rekindle the dormant sustainability of discarded ITA NORI. Fusing cutting-edge design principles with locally sourced materials, this ambitious endeavor seeks to reimagine these overlooked seaweed sheets as dazzling creations with renewed purpose.
A Beacon of Sustainability: 'Less, Light, Local' embodies the spirit of sustainability in every facet of its innovative design approach. By repurposing discarded ITA NORI, the project showcases the transformative power of localized materials and eco-conscious practices. It serves as a shining beacon, illuminating the path towards a more sustainable future for seaweed cultivation.
Unveiling a Paradigm Shift: Beyond its immediate design objectives, 'Less, Light, Local' signifies a broader movement, urging us to reevaluate our relationship with seaweed and confront the formidable challenges presented by a changing climate. By reshaping the narrative surrounding discarded ITA NORI, this visionary project offers a tantalizing glimpse into a future where tradition and sustainability coexist harmoniously.
In the face of climate change's assault on Japan's seaweed industry, 'Less, Light, Local' emerges as a symbol of resilience and hope. Through its innovative design principles and utilization of locally sourced materials, this remarkable project breathes new life into discarded ITA NORI, reaffirming its inherent sustainability. As we embrace this transformative approach, we fortify our commitment to a future that upholds cherished traditions while nurturing and protecting our precious natural resources.
Less, Light, Local- The NORI Project exploring the future of seaweed through ARAKAWA GRIP technology
Exhibition：From June 16 - 25, 2023
Time：11am〜19pm
Opening party：June 16, 2023 at 19pm (After the design talk)
Venue: TIERS GALLERY by arakawagrip（ティアーズギャラリー）
Address: 〒150-0001 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Jingumae, 5 Chome−7−12 TIERS 3F
Mirai Convenience Store, the Gold architecture winning from Sky Design Awards 2021
2021 Sky Design Awards Gold-winning architecture was designed by KOKUYO Co., Ltd. + GEN Architects Inc. This project is located in the central of Shikoku, Kito, and Kito is the district of Tokushima Prefecture. This rare area rich in natural beauty has been called the "Tibet of Shikoku."
Great design creates the power of now and the future.
2021 Sky Design Awards Gold-winning architecture was designed by KOKUYO Co., Ltd. + GEN Architects Inc. This project is located in the central of Shikoku, Kito, and Kito is the district of Tokushima Prefecture. This rare area rich in natural beauty has been called the "Tibet of Shikoku." However, like other rural communities, it is evolving into a marginal settlement, where only about 1000 people live in an area the same size as a Tokyo ward. Therefore, the private firm KITO DESIGN HOLDINGS has launched a project intended to revive this tiny village of Kito using the power of culture, promote and provide the wealthiest culture and conveniences services.
In addition, since there was no supermarket near the village, it was a food desert where people had to drive two hours to go shopping. In considering the future of this settlement, the team thought that the place was needed to become a lifeline for the village and help raise children and connect villagers with visitors.
This project is named "Mirai Convenience Store." The name "Mirai" ("future" in Japanese) was inspired by manga artist Osamu Tezuka's term for children: "miraijin" ("people of the future"). It reflects the hope that this facility will serve as a place where children in the area can grow and learn. Kito is also the first place in Japan where grafting of yuzu citrus trees has been conducted successfully.
Mirai Convenience Store was built to serve as the hub of this project. This project also includes CAMP PARK KITO, which is already complete, and the planned MANGA LIBRARY HOTEL intended to serve as sacred ground for manga fans and turn a disused school into a facility for hands-on agricultural experiences is also designed.
Designed by KOKUYO Co., Ltd. + GEN Architects Inc.
Architectural, interior, & landscape design:
KOKUYO Co.,Ltd. Wataru Sato, Kouji Aoki, Tomoya Kuroo, Makiko Suga
GEN Architects Inc. Youhei Mitsuishi, Takuma Kanou
Lighting design：HKL&D Hisaaki Kato
Equipment design：Norimasa Harada
Produce & Planning: KITO DESIGN HOLDINGS
Creative direction：Keisuke Unosawa
The Green Soul of Zegna - the Dream of Zero Waste Possible
At Zegna, they have taken care of the world we live in from the beginning, following in the footsteps of their founder Ermenegildo Zegna. This is their company mission, based on a constantly-evolving thought: looking at the future with the belief that our actions today will shape our tomorrow.
“At Zegna, we have taken care of the world we live in from the beginning, following in the footsteps of our founder Ermenegildo Zegna. This is our company mission, based on a constantly-evolving thought: looking at the future with the belief that our actions today will shape our tomorrow.”
At Zegna, social and environmental responsibility have been our roots for 110 years. When they were founded in 1910, Ermenegildo Zegna’s dream was not just to create the world’s finest textiles but to make his hometown and the world around it a better place, ensuring the highest-quality products without compromising the quality of life for future generations. His vision is still the heart of everything we do. The environment is at the core of our efforts: we believe the very best garments can only come from the best natural resources, and that these resources need to be cared for. The advanced vertical integration of our business model facilitates our journey towards a sustainable product and holds us accountable for responsible practices and processes.
2020 marks our 110th anniversary. On this landmark year, we are proud to renew our sustainability pledge, exemplified by OASI Zegna, where our Lanificio Zegna was established and our green philosophy was ignited. OASI Zegna is a unique model of our environmental consciousness, a territory that now covers 100km2 from Trivero to Valle Cervo in the Alpi Biellesi, which would not have been possible without the visionary approach of our founder.
“In an ever-changing world, luxury companies can simply adapt to changes or choose to be a positive force in driving these changes. Our responsibility is to leverage our past to build a better present and future. This carries over into everything we do, following our founder’s legacy. I’m very pleased that Zegna is part of the Green Pea project, partnering with Oscar Farinetti who shares the same sustainability ethos with us”, says Gildo Zegna, CEO of Ermenegildo Zegna.”
Meanwhile at Z ZEGNA, we continue to push the boundaries to explore sustainable fashion solutions, and use recyclablematerials to create the Z ZEGNA FW20 #Usetheexisting Nylon Padded Jacket and Vest. The extra-light recycled nylon stuffing creates feather-like comfort, whilst outstanding weaving and craftsmanship ensurewaterproofing and warmth. The streamlined design is ideal for outdoor adventures and city life alike, with functional details such as a patch pocket on the chest, zipper side pockets covered by a sleek, peach-skin technofabric shell, and a drawstring at the bottom. A carefree choice for contemporary gentlemen to mix and match, the Z ZEGNA FW20 #Usetheexisting Nylon Padded Jacket and Vest come in four colour options: black, red, bright yellow and dark green.
“Morethan a simple project, #UseTheExisting is a state of mind,” says Artistic Director, Alessandro Sartori. “The main goal is to rework the fashion system in order to reduce our ecological footprint. At Zegna, we are trying to reuse resources in order to not waste any materials in the production chain. It is a mission and a vision in which we are investing a lot. This is the principle behind the latest and future collections.”
Together, wecan build a better tomorrow.
For more information, please visit: www.zega.com