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 present our range of stationery designed in collaboration with artist Chika Higashi.
A self-taught umbrella maker, Higashi founded her hand-painted umbrella brand Coci la elle in 2010 and closed the much-loved business in 2022. It was a little over a year ago that she approached us about making paper goods as part of her new art practice. Having already worked with her on some notebook covers, we were delighted to embark on this new collaboration.
Higashi accepted our invitation to create new works exclusively for this collaboration. At our meeting she wanted 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 that showed her love for creating art.
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 worked on the pattern design and the complementary paper and print details, going back and forth to our print shop.
The result is a series of letter stationery in a variety of sizes and order-made notebook covers. Higashi’s artwork is front and centre in the designs, presented as an all-over print with a blank page overleaf or framed through the window in the envelope. We couldn’t be happier to bring a touch of art to your everyday writing and correspondence.
Higashi says she is currently inspired by the art of the Japanese tea ceremony. In her own words, here are her thoughts on the artworks she created for this collaboration.
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’s work radiates with her warmth and openness, and we’re honoured to share her world with our global audience.
