10.16.2020 | DIGS.NET 41
P R O F I L E | K I N T O
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PHOTOGRAPH:
COURTESY
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KINTO/ROW
DTLA
W R I T T E N B Y K A R I N E M O N I É
Tableware and lifestyle brand KINTO taps Los Angeles to host its first brick-and-mortar
store pervaded by a sense of peace and harmony.
JAPAN with a CALIFORNIA TWIST
B
ringing comfort and inspiration into
everyday life is KINTO's motto. Since its
1972 debut in Hikone, a city in Japan's
Shiga Prefecture, as a wholesaler of porcelain
and ceramic tableware, the Japanese brand
has added to its portfolio a line of products
(tableware, drinkware and interior accessories)
to fit the modern lifestyle.
"Our core value is the balance between
usability and aesthetics," says Laura Takemoto,
head of global communications at KINTO. "We
believe in products that are easy to use daily;
human movements such as holding, pouring
and drinking are carefully considered in the
design details. At the same time, we value
simplicity and elegance, and our products are
designed to integrate harmoniously with the
surrounding space." For every object, the in-
house product development team defines the
concept and different elements of the design
before thinking about the best persons—
sometimes external Japanese designers—to
transform their idea into reality.
The beginning of 2019 marked a new step
in KINTO's path with the opening of its first
store in ROW DTLA, in Los Angeles, followed
by a second in Tokyo (the only two boutiques
worldwide to date). "We wanted to create
physical spaces where consumers can get the
full KINTO brand experience," Takemoto says.
"Instead of just selling products, the idea is
to share the story and values that we cherish
as a brand and have people resonate with
them." While KINTO's designs and philosophy
are rooted in Japanese sensibility and
craftsmanship, the brand is also influenced by
