We were delighted to welcome so many people to the "UNDECORATED meets Kansai Noguchi with whole & uRn." event, which ran for seven days from Saturday, January 22nd to Friday, January 28th. We hope that fans of each shop were able to discover new "likes."

This time, we bring you UNDECORATED designer Kono's reflections on the event and his ideas for future endeavors.


――First, please share your thoughts on this event, Mr. Kono.

Kono: This was the second event with potter Kansai-san and Miyata-san of "uRn.", but it was the first time for Tsunakawa-san of "whole" to participate. In fact, Tsunakawa-san also came to the previous event (November 2020) and resonated with the concept, saying, "I want to participate too!"

It goes without saying that ceramics and flowers are a perfect match, and the space was truly "enhanced" by the flowers, leading to an even greater success than last time. I'm very glad we were able to make it happen, thanks to everyone.


――The venue for this event was groundfloor Gallery. During the period, it had a vibrant atmosphere, a pleasant aroma, and ceramics displayed like an art exhibition, creating an extraordinary ambiance. What was the most important aspect you focused on when creating that space?

Kono: I believe space creation is one of the most important elements in physical presentation. What I particularly value are:
・That people are captivated by the space and drawn into its world.
・That people understand the concept of the event.
These are the two points.

Everyone has their own preferences for spaces, but I myself have visited many different spaces and had many experiences where I was smoothly drawn into the beauty of that space. So I am always thinking about creating a place where people can have a similar experience. 

This time, the particular point I focused on was "dynamism." You don't usually experience a space where ceramics and fresh flowers are dynamically placed on large tables, do you? I wanted to make that a reality.







Another point was that the long, narrow space of groundfloor Gallery reminded me of a Parisian market, so I thought it would be nice to create a scene where everyone who visited could gather at one shop and look at various things, like in a market. That's why I chose that layout.




――During the event, especially on Saturdays and Sundays, I believe there were many visitors. Families, friends, and couples chatted while examining ceramics, admiring flowers, drinking tea, and choosing clothes... Were there any moments when you saw such scenes and thought, "I'm glad we did this"?

Kono: Seeing everyone taking photos and enjoying themselves makes me feel good. Not just me, but also Kansai-san, Tsunakawa-san, and Miyata-san, seeing them resonate with what each of us considered "good" and with the atmosphere and worldview, I feel a sense of expansion and connection, and I realize that the project is being well-received.


――UNDECORATED also exhibited items from its 2022 Spring & Summer collection. What was the reaction like?

Kono: From a brand perspective, it would be more appropriate to focus on and prioritize showcasing UNDECORATED's collection, but for events, I try to "step back and present things indirectly."

Of course, I was very happy that many people came to buy clothes, but the purpose of this event is "to propose and communicate elements other than clothing (lifestyle) that UNDECORATED conveys," so I want people to experience the atmosphere of the lifestyle we propose.




――You mentioned that you're planning future events. Do you already have any ideas like, "I want to do something like this next time"?

Kono: First and foremost, a big goal is to gain many fans for the event. Regardless of the content or genre of the exhibition, I want to create a community by increasing the number of people who visit every time.

Currently, we are promoting events directly through the brand's filter, such as "UNDECORATED meets...", but we are considering a plan to make it a more independent project, somewhat separate from the brand. Of course, it won't be completely unrelated to the brand, but I want to make it a lifestyle gallery centered around clothing, food, and housing.

Once again, thank you to everyone who attended. Please look forward to the next event.