TIMES

A New World of Fashion, Woven by a Paper-Cutting Designer
 

After studying abroad in the United States following high school, designer TANTAN was influenced by a range of cultures there, and on returning to Japan, began working as a paper-cutting designer. Drawing especially on ancient art from Middle Eastern culture, TANTAN's work is defined mainly by an Oriental elegance paired with a modern touch.

In recent years, TANTAN has begun translating paper-cutting design into fashion through jewelry, launching "KIRIE Jewelry," lightweight paper jewelry that is water-resistant and durable, and "HAKU," pieces that use three traditional crafts — paper-cutting, lacquer, and gold leaf — to create delicate Japanese-and-Western openwork designs with an antique feel, as well as "FUWARI," which achieves an ancient look by leaving traces of black lacquer visible beneath the gold leaf. Each piece reflects a careful attention to material, expressing the conceptual worldview distinctive to a paper-cutting designer whose inspiration draws on ancient art.

TANTAN also designs popular items with a fantastical touch. A representative product is "CARRY saKASA," an umbrella brand that can be opened or closed upside down. Realized through a collaboration with distributor InterBusiness Bridge, this moonlit umbrella that makes rainy days more enjoyable is a fusion of art and fashion unlike anything before it — an item people can enjoy in everyday life.

TANTAN has also been active recently in presenting work overseas, starting with the 2019 fashion trade show "Who's Next" in Paris, France, and is scheduled to exhibit at "Maison et Objet," also held in Paris, in January 2020.

Bringing Japanese traditional crafts into fashion and interior items and sending them out to the world — the creative world of paper-cutting designer TANTAN continues to expand.

Company Information
Paper-cutting designer TANTAN
WEB: https://www.tantan.tokyo/