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True to the androgyny of our brand name Claude,
so is the nature of our designs – they are for everyone.
Since our formation, Claude has presented our accessories as “feminine.” This was not intentional but an organic expression stemming from collections, designed and worn by one who identifies as a woman. However, recently Claude has become aware that people of all ages, nationalities and genders have been taking to the brand.
“Inclusion and diversity is the highest moral to live by, and design based on universality is key,” says Claude. “It should go without saying, however, when it comes to fluidity in fashion—the merging of women’s and menswear as gender-neutral is needed and it frees us all—both the wearer and the designer. Wear and create what you want with no judgements. Self-expression is the full expression and joy of fashion.”
A Designer’s Coming Out
In seeing how her scarves had become part of a more inclusive and genderless fashion trend, Claude, the designer herself, started photographing diverse subjects who live in Kanazawa wearing Claude’s silk scarves. Claude worked closely with stylist Masako Hayashi in the downtown area of Shintatemachi and created a series of photographs of Masuo Shioi, the first model who identifies as ‘male’ for Claude.
“This conscious move to present the brand in this way opens up our creative realm and feels just right.”
I’ve run an antique shop, VerMeer in Kanazawa for twenty years.
A scarf and a pipe are must-have items for me.
They are like twins of my life.
金沢でフェルメールというアンティークのお店を20年ほどやっています。
私にとってスカーフとパイプは生活に欠かせない「双子」みたいなものです。
Masuo’s shop VerMeer deals in 18th and 19th century British antiques and is located on the artistic and inviting main street of the Shintatemachi district.
To see the scarves worn by Masuo, come and explore our Claude x Nishiyama Silk collection.
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A message from Claude
New York, as my birthplace, is the artistic and driving force behind who I am and what I do. Especially now, in these difficult times, we must continue to support the arts in these creative hubs.
Art has the power to bring us together when times are tough. The artist is a vehicle for the pain, love, and emotions we all want to express but don’t always have the courage or ability to do so ourselves.
Claude understands how everyone, artists included, is affected by this Covid-19 pandemic. Many artists are struggling to just meet their basic needs. As a show of support for them, Claude will donate half of our profits from sales between June 1, 2020 and July 1, 2020 to the Artist Relief and the New York Foundation for the Arts – two organizations that are sending support to artists in this time of need.
If you purchase an item from our online store, thank you! Together these small acts can aide artists and send the message that they matter – they are the barometer of our collective unconscious.
Evelyn Teploff-Mugii
Founding Partner & Designer
Artist Relief
“To support artists during the COVID-19 crisis, a coalition of national arts grantmakers have come together to create an emergency initiative to offer financial and informational resources to artists across the United States.”
New York Foundation for the Arts
“For nearly 50 years, NYFA has furnished artists with crucial support through grants, access to additional funding sources, information resources, and professional development training. During the Covid-19 pandemic, we are determined to continue to provide these tools to artists who are being impacted by the critical health crisis.”
Photo: Street art (around 2018) on construction site hoarding in the East Village of Manhattan. If you know the artist(s), please let us know as we’d love to credit them.
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Publisher BNN who is based in Shibuya, Tokyo prints books relating to design, digital media and craft. Claude’s “kin-maki-e” paper products have been featured within their 176 page book entitled “New Traditional Japanese Design” – a visual collection of graphic design that conjures feelings of nostalgic Japan and its traditions, but with modern viewpoint.
What is ‘New Traditional Japanese Design’ anyway? This sounds like an oxymoron.
True. However, it’s fitting that BNN choose to feature Claude’s classic bookmarks and butterfly gift tags embellished with the Japanese “kin-maki-e” craft technique to represent this new traditional design approach. In this particular series, Claude incorporates modern graphics mixed with traditional Japanese motifs such as a “kiku” (Chrysanthemum) pattern, which represents longevity and rejuvenation, a metaphor dating back hundreds of years. These patterns are then contrasted with a contemporary and vibrant palette associated more closely with pop art or graffiti.
“My impulse to incorporate a traditional motif is purely for its beauty, the thought of a tribute to the past or to tradition is just a result of this choice” says Claude’s founder and designer. “The graphics themselves should be pleasing to the eyes evoking a few feelings at once … first we get a jolt of beaming color that strikes an emotional reflex, then we notice a slick and modern surface, and finally, we pause to analyze the motif … The design serves both to delight and challenge us.”
There is an undeniable charm of the influence of the past, mixed with the added intrigue—of the contemporary. Clearly this is not just a trend but a mainstay of the arts—reinterpretation, or rehashing, is an essential part of the creative process.
One of the interesting aspects that Claude brings to the design is her status as an outsider, especially from a cultural perspective. Of the hundreds of Japanese studios and designers featured in this publication, Claude is the lone ‘non-Japanese’ creator represented. We wondered how Claude felt about this. Her reply: “Why not? Then, I thought, what an amazing opportunity, since non-Japanese designers based in Japan are rarely represented in the media. Although it’s true this is starting to change. There are many artists and designers who have lived here for decades contributing to the creative arena, and conversely, Japan’s creators are more a part of the global stage, now more than ever –– we are not as separated as we think.”
Explore Claude’s latest bookmarks and gift tags.
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When Claude was approached by a consultant for Cheero, a well-known brand of electronics and mechanical parts maker in Japan, we could have never guessed why. However, it was good fortune for Claude’s designer, a tech otaku (geek), and a fan of Japanese pop-culture to be asked to create a design on “Danbo.”
Danbo?
People from many corners of the globe are familiar with Danbo by now; an Internet meme and hero of many photo shoots one of the most noted being, “365 Days of Danbo” by Arielle Nadel. However, to fully appreciate this collaboration between Claude and Cheero and the resulting creation of their mobile battery, it’s important to know the origins of the Danbo character.
Danbo (ダンボー, “cardboard”) also known as Cardbo in the English translations, is a character who appeared in the Japanese manga comic, “Yotsuba&!” by Kiyohiko Azuma. The story centers on a lively and quirky five-year-old adopted girl named Yotsuba Koiwai. Her naïveté is the premise of many humorous stories whereby she learns about — and frequently misunderstands — everyday things she encounters, including Danbo (who enters in Chapter 28). This is when Yotsuba’s friend Miura creates a “robot” costume out of cardboard boxes for a school project, but the 5-year-old Yotsuba is adamant it’s not her friend, but a real robot.
The series focuses on the daily life of the characters and Yotsuba’s journey to uncover life’s mysteries. While there is no consistent plot, the tenor of the series can be summarized by a phrase used on chapter title pages and also in advertising: “Today is always the most enjoyable day” (いつでも今日が、いちばん楽しい日, Itsudemo kyō ga, ichiban tanoshii hi), or in the original translation, “Enjoy Everything”.
The reasons for Danbo’s success and why its popularity spread to make Danbo an endearing and much loved character in Japan is because Danbo is cute, accessible, and familiar. The love for Danbo is universal because Danbo is simple (made of cardboard). Anyone can make Danbo and therefore everyone can love him. Danbo became so popular that he left the pages of the comic and now exists in action figures, costumes, electronics and even Japanese condoms!
So how did Claude and Cheero come together in their creation? To quote Claude: “The simplicity of this character was like an empty canvas. Danbo is a plain cardboard box, so anything is possible … I used all of sides of the mobile battery casing and treated Danbo like the Japanese would a precious objet in the true tradition of lacquerware and kin-maki-e (gold powder craft).”
Claude then asked a well-known craftsman of kin-maki-e, Masatoshi Kobayashi based in Yamanaka, Ishikawa Prefecture, who is recognized for excellence in the craft, to apply their designs and demonstrate the technique’s process.
The two resulting designs were surprising. Says Claude: “The usual approach in electronics design, especially mobile batteries, is to blend into or match with other electronics. In this case, we wanted our Danbo to be the focus when charging, being used or when not in use at all. If Danbo is in our presence it should bring pleasure and wonder in the true spirit of the character.”
Graphics design by Claude for Cheero, ©KIYOHIKO AZUMA/YOTUBA SUTAZIO. ©TRA CO. LTD. All Rights Reserved.
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The creative group secca, and Claude have collaborated to create an experimental series of buckles that plays on the concept of ‘creative reuse.’ Secca has combined 21st-Century techniques of 3-D technology with traditional kōgei (Japanese craft) sensibilities to create distinctive and unique products for the home. Claude, inspired by the beautiful forms of vintage Japanese buckles, approached secca with the idea of using the buckle-form in a variety of ‘creative reuses’ and to add accents to Claude’s silk accessories line. Through their initial brainstorming sessions, Claude and secca found they shared in common the creative principle of starting with traditional kōgei values and craft-techniques and then applying them in the context of cutting-edge manufacturing. The Buckle Collection developed first, a series of scarf rings (accessories which enhance ways of wearing scarves) which experiment with using remnant plastic materials like cellulose-acetate. For the collaboration, Claude and secca played with combinations of resin and remnant wood from unexpected sources which give the buckles an added infusion of soul. For example, one of the wood remnants used is from a dismantled Edo era house, another is recycled compressed Japanese cedar.
Explore the Buckle Collection from Claude
Claude Buckles are repurposed for a variety of uses and to add accents to our silk accessories. Various buckle sizes are paired with different scarf styles so you can personalize your own look. Create a tailored look around the neck and shoulders, or wear your scarf around the waist as a belt. You can discover other creative ways to wear our buckles for the wrist, ankle, or head; adding personal accents to your style.1 MINUTE READ
So many ‘how-to’ videos exist on the internet on just about any topic you can imagine. How, we wondered, can we make ours stand out? Drawing on our face-to-face experiences with our customers, we created our own unique tutorials that aim to be both personal and easy to follow.
Many of our customers are interested in the ‘art of wearing’ our scarves. To address their questions and provide insight into Claude’s inspiration behind each design and how each scarf was envisioned on the wearer, we now have simple and clear visuals that can be easily followed.
Now on Claude’s YouTube channel you can find our first series highlighting ways to wear our silk scarves –– try a ‘weave knot’ with a long scarf, or mixing a bandana with one of our “Buckle” scarf rings. Be sure to subscribe to our channel for updates and a plethora of creative and fun ways to wear our scarves.
Visit our channel for more short, simple and inspired ideas to try yourself.
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The distinguished kimono silk of Nishiyama Silk, known as Ushikubi Tsumugi, was a feature exhibition from December 2019 through March 2020 at The Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Traditional Arts and Crafts in Kanazawa City, Japan. The museum preserves and maintains traditional skills while connecting them to modern-day life.
The exhibition showcased their traditionally made ‘pongee’ silk with demonstrations of its distinct and sustainable character. The source of its distinct qualities is the thread itself: a breathable and naturally elastic fiber with formidable strength, created by being spun directly from large, twined cocoons. The presentation shared anecdotes, teaching that the silk caught on a nail would not tear, but pull the nail out: earning the nickname, Kuginuki-tsumugi (nail-pulling silk).
Besides its strength, by nature the cloth is visually appealing with its uniquely random texture. This was shown through many examples on display—some 100 items from traditional kimono to obi sashes and other accessories. In addition, there was a presentation of their contemporary pieces from the Claude x Nishiyama Silk Scarves Collection.
The museum exhibits all of the 36 Kōgei crafts designated in Ishikawa Prefecture, and their permanent exhibition collection is categorized into groups such as clothes, food, houses, praying, and festivals. Here, visitors can explore the traditional regional skills developed over the centuries and their roles in local culture and everyday life.
Throughout the year, various special exhibitions like the one we saw focus not only on the craft traditions but also on craft innovations. This highlights the importance and significance of museums in Japan to raise awareness of the craft world of today. One that is progressive, active, and engrained: especially in Kanazawa, where crafts have thrived for hundreds of years.
The museum shop hosts a stage for regular live demonstrations from local artisans, some of whom are also exhibited in the permanent collection. Here, visitors can interact with the creators themselves, witness the sophisticated processes, and through conversation, absorb the spirit and undying dedication to their craft.
For those who missed the featured exhibition Ushikubi Tsumugi, the permanent exhibition will not disappoint. Discover the inspiring atmosphere of Nishiyama Silk, delve into the kimono world’s legacy throughout the year, and explore more designated crafts on display.
Regular Hours:
9:00 to 17:00
Closed on Thursdays
Address:
Ishikawa Traditional Industrial Arts Museum
1-1 Kenroku-machi, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa-ken
920-0936, Japan
Tel: 076-262-2020
Website