The brand is developing two series, "tradition" and "Flying pig".
"Tradition" is leather dyed with indigo and ink, which are also the traditional colors of Japan. It is very difficult to dye indigo and ink, so we use a manual dyeing method. Leather is difficult to get color like fabric, and it takes a lot of time and effort to work.
In addition, the dyeing method was not uniform like the fabric, and unevenness occurred. However, we saw it as an attraction and thought that it would be a one-of-a-kind product in the world. Each product is dyed in a different way. This is the charm and the biggest feature.
I have been involved in the "Flying pig" series from the beginning of the system. Uses leather from Saitama Prefecture's brand pig "Sai no Kuni Black Pig". This series will involve slaughterhouses, raw leather processors, leather tanners, and even JA involved. The three strengths of this series are that traceability is properly carried out, that quality is stabilized and added value (upcycling) by securing materials through a route different from the conventional distribution channel of pig skin, and that it is a small circle of circulation in a small area.
We would like to contribute to the development of not only the leather industry, but also the livestock industry. Until now, meat products and leather products have been treated as completely different things. However, in order to connect to the future, we need to cooperate and think about each other. I believe that this is the mission of humans to farm animals.
I was involved in tanning the skin, but it was the first time for the tanner to tan only the skin of a black pig. As a result, there were many failures. In the prototype, the bristles peculiar to black pigs and the thick fat were also factors that made it difficult. However, "Sai no Kuni Black Pig" has features such as thick and sturdy leather, fewer scratches than ordinary pig leather, and stable quality.