HAORI Mixes Light With the Tradition of Wearing a Kimono

Atsushi Shindo’s award-winning artful lighting, HAORI, made me feel warm and safe the first time I saw it, as though each conical piece was welcoming me into an embrace. The “enwrapped light” was exhibited at Salone and then at the Interior Lifestyle 2023 fair where HAORI received the coveted Young Designer Award.

Inspired by the traditional Japanese kimono, or “Haori,” the lampshade stands on its own, spreading its luminescence through a gentle curved surface. Shindo hoped to capture the feeling of his first experience wearing a Japanese Haori and, I believe it to be successful, because HAORI resembles this wrapping of self.

HAORI’s shades can be changed – like clothing – for a new look or to accommodate a different space. Perforated aluminum, with a fine pierced patterning, results in a soft illumination, while cowhide Kobe Leather provides an enveloping sense of warmth and tranquility. Upcycled fabric shares the same layering and tactility of the Haori itself. The artisan uses NUNOUS, a new fabric-based, upcycled material with a marble-like texture that’s environmentally friendly. Lumber and rattan offer further choices and effects based on needs.

The lampshade itself is first crafted using two-dimensional patterns, taking into account the different materials’ traits and how they need to be treated in both 2D and 3D, before being shaped into a cone. According to Shindo, this process helps to reduce the environmental impact of its manufacturing. The designer invites us to examine the various shapes and the way light transmits through the different materials of HAORI.

Shindo spends his days working as a corporate interior designer for hotels, offices, and large commercial spaces, but also makes sure to carve out time for his own projects, such as HAORI. Whether thinking through an experimental product, space, or artwork, he creatively explores the closely related appeal of design and art, including everyday objects.

Atsushi Shindo

To learn more about Atsushi Shindo’s HAORI, visit atsushishindo.com.

Photography by Ryohei Maehara.

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she's likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.

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