We met with iconic Japanese clothing brand Issey Miyake and the Finnish glassware company Iittala to look at the influence and thought process behind their recent collaboration, a collection of simple homewares.Titled Pause for Harmony, the collection was created to make ordinary activities — relaxing on the couch, making tea, arranging freshly cut flowers in a vase — special, and was inspired by the beauty and colour palette of Japanese cherry blossoms.
Comprising delicate textile, ceramic and glass pieces for the home, the collaboration has been in development for over four years, with the two brands coming together to create an ambient blend of Japanese and Scandinavian design.
“Both of these brands have always been true to their philosophy of timeless design and creative thinking,” says Iittala design director Harri Koskinen. “They also value tradition, functionality, craftsmanship, and the use of innovative materials and methodologies in their design work.”
More than that, the collection is about mindfulness: being present for the day-to-day happenings that, with busy, technology driven lives, we often take for granted. The design team — Midori Kitamura, president of Miyake Design Studio and Koskinen of Iittala — say the collection was carefully considered. They didn’t want to simply make more “stuff”, but rather create objects that are functional and reflective of the modern home today.
Classic Issey Miyake textiles are employed in cream, green, dusty pink, and grey hues, with the pleating technique used on the cushion covers, napkins and placemats, echoing the brand’s iconic 132 5. ISSEY MIYAKE clothing range. Pentagonal shapes are used across the collection, chosen, Kitamura says, for their “non-daily” aesthetic. One of the pieces — a textile table flower for placing keys or objects on — is a perfect reminder to pause for harmony.
Find out more about the collaboration at pauseforharmony.com
