Work in Progress
Mino WashiLanzavecchia + Wai
Mino Washi, Gifu Prefecture
Mino Washi, a traditional Japanese paper from Gifu Prefecture, is crafted in an area abundant in natural resources where kozo (paper mulberry), its primary material, thrives. The craft has been practiced since the Nara period (710–794) and is celebrated for its exceptional balance of thinness, strength, and beauty. In 1969, Hon-minoshi (genuine Mino Washi) was designated an Important Intangible Cultural Property by the Japanese government. Furthermore, in 2014, the traditional hand-making techniques for washi were inscribed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Designer
Lanzavecchia + Wai
Founded in 2010 by Francesca Lanzavecchia and Hunn Wai, is a design studio based in Italy and Singapore. They explore the relationship between objects and the human experience, blending research, engineering, and storytelling. Their projects, including work for brands like Zanotta and Hermès, have been showcased at Milan Design Week and Design Miami/Basel. The studio has received accolades such as the Red Dot Award, and their innovative designs have been acquired by museums like M+ in Hong Kong.
Artisan
Takanori Senda, Warabi Paper Company
Born in 1983 in Gifu Prefecture. Inspired by his time living among indigenous communities in the Amazon and Andes of Peru, he developed a deep resonance with a way of life in harmony with nature. In 2011, he apprenticed under Tatsuo Ichihara, inheriting the 1,300-year-old tradition of handmade Mino Washi paper-making before establishing his own practice. As the founder of Warabi Paper Company, he cultivates raw materials and crafts traditional washi paper by hand, pushing the boundaries of conventional handmade washi paper to create innovative paper works for hotels, retail spaces, designers, and brands.