RINNE -Circular Product-

RINNE -Circular Product-

RINNE -Circular Product-

20年以上皮革と向き合い、シューズのデザイン・製作を手がけてきました。その一方で、ずっと心に抱いてきた思いがあります。それは大量生産・大量廃棄のサイクルが前提となった現代消費への疑問です。それを少しでも解消するために立ち上げたプロジェクトが、「RINNE（輪廻）」です。生命を吹き込まれたモノは、補修や手入れをされながら愛され、使命を全うした後、地球の資源に還る。この一連の循環を通じ、現代の都市生活者が改めて環境や人間性について考えるきっかけをつくります。第一弾は、地球想いのシューズ。アッパーには、環境負荷の低い、30%植物由来のポリエステルを使用した「ウルトラスエード®️」、食肉加工の過程で廃棄される皮革「ニベレザー」などを使用。ソールには100%天然素材で生分解性のある「GENN™️」を採用し、使命を終え、回収されたソールの処理を土壌微生物の第一人者「金澤バイオ」で実施予定です。

I have been working with leather for over 20 years, designing and manufacturing shoes. On the other hand, there is one thought that I have always had in my mind. One of the things I have always had in mind is the question of modern consumption, which is based on the cycle of mass production and mass disposal. RINNE" is a project that I launched in order to solve this problem, if only a little. Objects that have been infused with life are loved while being repaired and cared for, and after fulfilling their mission, they are returned to the earth's resources. Through this series of cycles, we will create an opportunity for modern urban dwellers to rethink the environment and humanity. The first product is an earth-conscious shoe. The upper is made of low environmental impact artificial leather, "Ultrasuede®️" made of 30% plant-derived polyester, and "Nivea leather" which is discarded in the meat processing process. The sole is made of GENN™️, a 100% natural material that is biodegradable. After completing its mission, the collected sole will be processed by Kanazawabio, a leading soil microorganism company.

歴史を遡ると、元来「靴」とは循環を前提にしたサステナブルなモノでした。古くから日本に伝わる、木や紙で造られた日本家屋、綿や絹で織られた和服や着物、イ草を原料にした畳などと同様に、天然素材であるレザーで作られたシューズは環境負荷が少ない製品です。先人たちは、それらを大切に扱い、手入れをしながら長く愛用してきました。また、わたしが靴作りの修行をしていたイギリスにも近い精神は根付いており、たとえばチャールズ皇太子は、ビスポークで仕立てた革靴が壊れる度に何度も補修し、つぎはぎだらけになってまで愛用されていました。リペアやクリーニングにより、モノの寿命を延ばすことは大切です。ただ、それと同時に環境への負荷を突き詰めて考えていくと、「できる限り作らない」というひとつの答えにたどり着きます。わたし自身、モノづくりとケアサービスに取り組む中で、そこに対しての葛藤はありました。でも、それは逆に考えれば、作るのであれば責任を持ち、“本当に必要なモノ”を作らなければいけないということでもあります。だからこそ、自分自身への挑戦と捉え、「RINNE（輪廻）」では、現代の都市生活に必要な機能とモノを大切にする日本人のDNAを兼ね備えた、“これからの時代に必要なプロダクト”を提案していきたいと思っています。モノが持つ、生命のサーキュレーションをぜひ感じていただきたいです。

Going back in history, "shoes" were originally a sustainable product based on the premise of circulation. Like Japanese houses made of wood and paper, kimono made of cotton and silk, and tatami mats made of rushes, shoes made of natural leather are products with low environmental impact. Our ancestors took good care of them and used them for a long time with good care. For example, Prince Charles repaired his bespoke leather shoes many times whenever they were broken, and he used them until they were covered with splinters. It is important to extend the life of things by repairing and cleaning. However, at the same time, when we consider the environmental impact, we arrive at one answer: "Don't make as much as possible. I myself have had to deal with this conflict while working on manufacturing and care services. However, if you think about it the other way around, it also means that if you are going to make something, you have to take responsibility for it and make something that is "truly necessary. That is why I see this as a challenge to myself, and with "RINNE", I would like to propose "products necessary for the future" that combine the functions necessary for modern urban life with the DNA of Japanese people who value things. I would like you to feel the circulation of life that things have.