From the maker, to the writer. Made for the Writer is a collection of tools by artists and makers, created to enhance your writing time. Today, we introduce our letter stationery designed in collaboration with artist Chika Higashi.
A self-taught maker of umbrellas, Higashi founded her hand-painted umbrella brand Coci la elle in 2010, closing the much-loved business in 2022. Just over a year ago, she approached us to make paper goods as part of her new art practice. Having previously worked with her on our notebook covers, we were delighted for this new collaboration.
Higashi accepted our invitation to create new artworks exclusive to the collaboration. At our meeting, she explained her desire to get a personal sense of Kakimori to inspire her, and we enjoyed a conversation about everything from our favourite films to current interests. It was a wonderful exchange and her love for creating art was infectious.
Some time later, we received an assortment of artworks and sketches of all sizes and styles.
Higashi encouraged us to arrange the pieces as we saw fit, giving us a creative freedom rarely so openly afforded by an artist. And so we were handed the creative baton to transform her work into the final product. We deliberated on the pattern design and complementary paper and print details, going back and forth to our printing workshop.
The result is a range of letter writing sets and note-sized writing paper. The artworks are front and centre, featured as an all-over print with a blank page overleaf, rather than as background images. A message on one side, and Higashi’s heartwarming art on the other; our letter stationery brings a touch of art to your everyday letter writing.
Higashi says she’s currently inspired by the art of Japanese tea ceremony. Below are her thoughts on the artworks she created for this collaboration in her own words.
Relation
The work is an abstract image of people, objects, words and spaces. Our close relationships, everyday interactions with objects, and the words we speak all affect our sense of space. I’m exploring what exists between two human beings.
Once in a lifetime
The popular Zen phrase ichigo ichie teaches us that each moment comes just once in a lifetime. Many cultures around the world have their own version of this wisdom. Lately I've been finding happiness in life’s ordinary moments. The work celebrates the visually rich world of traditional Japanese motifs and their auspicious nature.
Lumière
The word means ‘light’ in French. Light and shadow have many faces, and an ability to deeply move us. The work is inspired by Junichiro Tanizaki’s In Praise of Shadows.
Higashi embodies the openheartedness and purity that her work radiates, and we’re honoured to share her world with our global audience.
We’re already planning to expand the series to include notebooks and other letter stationery, so we can bring more of Higashi’s joyous work to life.
