UNDECORATED will hold a solo exhibition by glass artist Yoko Yamano Anderson starting November 23rd. As a special project for this exhibition, we will be releasing "PICKNICK Bag," a triple collaboration piece inspired by the title "PICKNICK."

Here, through a conversation between Atsushi Hayasaki, designer of the bag brand "TEMBEA," which we are collaborating with for the first time, and our designer Kono, we will discuss the brand and the story behind the creation of this collaborative piece.

◼︎ What is TEMBEA?

↑ Mr. Hayasaki

UNDECORATED: TEMBEA bags are often seen around town, and I get the impression that they're loved by many people. Could you tell us about the brand's origins?

Hayasaki (hereafter Hayasaki): TEMBEA started in 2004 and will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2024. It's now mainly a bag brand, but originally, we started with clothing, and bags were just a part of our lineup.

At that time, we were making baguette totes for baguettes. From 2007, we increased the number of styles, and gradually bag sales surpassed clothing, making it primarily a bag brand as it is today.

Kono: So, you didn't intentionally transition into a bag brand. Was the name TEMBEA used from the brand's start in 2004? I'm also curious about the origin of the name.

Hayasaki: We've used the name TEMBEA consistently since the brand's inception. TEMBEA literally translates to "wander" in Swahili.

When choosing this word, I first wanted to avoid any bias that would make the clothes or bags feel "masculine or feminine." With that in mind, I looked through dictionaries for words and found "TEMBEA," meaning "aimless wandering." I felt it was "just right" for me, as I wanted to start creating things with a free concept, so I made it the brand name.

◼︎ The Encounter between TEMBEA and UNDECORATED

UNDECORATED: So, how did TEMBEA and UNDECORATED meet?

Kono: I believe it started with me reaching out to you.

During the pandemic, I saw TEMBEA's book tote for the first time at an exhibition, and I was incredibly impressed by the concept of a tote bag designed specifically for books and its rational design. It stayed in my mind ever since.

As we progressed with plans for Ms. Yamano's second solo exhibition, the idea came up that "it would be a shame not to do something new that neither I nor Ms. Yamano has done before." Among suggestions like "making a wooden basket," TEMBEA's book tote immediately came to mind. I thought, "That seems sturdy enough for glasses and bottles, and its shape could also evoke a basket," so I proposed a collaboration. I was worried it might be a tall order, but what did you think at the time? (laughs)

Hayasaki: I honestly thought it sounded interesting. (laughs)

When you're creating something yourself, it's often difficult to break out of your own shell. On the other hand, collaborations can be tough and involve a lot of challenges. However, I thought it would be exciting to have new ideas sprout within me, and I was fired up.

Also, I actually have one of Ms. Yamano's works displayed in my store. I've cherished it ever since she gave it to me a long time ago. So, I was delighted to reconnect in this way.

Kono: Ms. Yamano remembered meeting you too!

↑ Ms. Yamano's glass artwork displayed in the store

■ The Story of the Collaboration Bag Creation, from Idea to Completion

Kono: The challenge for this collaboration was to create a canvas bag that could carry glass works by Ms. Yamano, along with an original textile glass and bottle holder from UNDECORATED, to transport glasses and wine bottles. As we got into the specifics, I started to worry, "If we use the book tote shape and put two fragile items like a bottle and glasses inside, they might break... can we really make this work?"

Then, Mr. Hayasaki gave us the brilliant idea of "adding cushioning inside." I was so impressed by that. Where did that idea come from?

Hayasaki: The idea of putting cushioning inside came to me relatively quickly. I just had a clear image of "three glasses fitting, and a wine bottle fitting diagonally."

On the other hand, I spent a lot of time and effort on the "amount of cotton" to put inside, thinking, "If it's too much, it'll be too bulky, but if it's too little, it won't be enough to protect fragile items..."

Kono: I'm surprised it came to you so smoothly! I was truly impressed by the idea of putting the wine bottle in diagonally. I feel that for us who make clothes, it's not easy to switch our way of thinking to create three-dimensional objects like that, and I thought that was a way of thinking unique to bag makers.

The idea for a shoulder bag came from Ms. Yamano. She said, "While a basket type is good for people who travel by car, for a small group going on a picnic on foot, something easy to carry like a shoulder tote would be better." So we created a shoulder type based on the bucket tote. Because Ms. Yamano incorporates everyday "necessities" into her work, she really considers the user, and I thought that was wonderful.

Hayasaki: Yes, exactly. That's how we went about making it, exchanging various ideas, but the coloring was decided relatively quickly, wasn't it?

Kono: Ms. Yamano also requested simple colors, so we decided on two colors: charcoal gray, inspired by Ms. Yamano's work clothes, and natural, which matches the atmosphere of this exhibition venue and her works.

Mr. Hayasaki, how did you feel when you saw the finished bag?

Hayasaki: I think it's truly a flawless product. I can't wait to see it with glasses and bottles inside.

UNDECORATED – Glass Artist Yoko Yamano Anderson Solo Exhibition "PICKNICK vol.2" –

【Dates】

11/23 (Sat) - 12/1 (Sun)
1PM - 7PM
*Artist scheduled to be present: 11/23 (Sat)

【Location】
groundfloor Gallery
1-8-1 2F Nakameguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo

【Collaboration Bag Details】

◾️ ”PICKNICK” Basket Bag

¥150,000 + tax
Made to order

◾️ ”PICKNICK” Tote Bag

¥75000 + tax
Limited quantity sale

※Notes regarding the event day※
・Products will be available while supplies last. Thank you for your understanding.
・During busy times, there may be a wait or some products may be limited in quantity. Thank you for your understanding.

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TEMBEA

"TEMBEA", a bag brand started in 2004.
It began with making bags for specific items and uses.

We explore new materials, colors, and shapes to match current trends and moods, aiming to create products with a sense of inorganic simplicity and design.

TEMBEA means "to wander." We continue to create products as everyday tools.

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/tembea_torso_design/

Website : https://torso-design.com/

Yoko Yamano Anderson

Since 2001, she has been studying glassmaking techniques in Småland, southern Sweden, the mecca of the glass industry, as well as in Finland and Venice. In 2004, she moved her base to Stockholm when she enrolled in the master's program in Ceramics and Glass at Konstfack (University College of Arts, Crafts and Design), and now has a studio in Gustavsberg, where she actively creates glass art. In 2011, she received the Cultural Award from the City of Stockholm. In 2014, the Swedish Parliament acquired her works. She exhibits her works not only in the EU but also in the UK, Serbia, Japan, and other countries, and through her life's work "Glass Tableware in Still Life," she explores and expresses various aspects of glass tableware.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoko_yamano/?locale=ja_JP

Website : https://bit.ly/3YevAx8