Feature
– Munekawa's Craftsmanship – What Munekawa values in its production
Munekawa's brand concept is to "enrich the soul through craftsmanship."
Through the material "leather" and our technology and knowledge, we aim to enrich the hearts of those who use our products.
We strive to create such products every day.
What Munekawa values most when making leather products.
We will introduce each of these details through key points in the product process and scenes from production.
01 Simplicity
It's simple.
This simple shape was arrived at after careful consideration of "long-lasting use."
The most important thing for Munekawa in making products is "longevity."
To achieve this, " simple design and structure " and " functional usability " are important.
The simple design without unnecessary decoration is a timeless design that is not affected by the times or trends, and can be enjoyed for a long time.
In addition, the simple structure makes it durable and easy to repair if it does break.
The simpler something is, the more precision is required and the more difficult it becomes.
However, we believe that it is only by giving shape to this idea that "long-lasting leather products" can be created.
The advantage of having fewer parts and a simpler structure
When making leather products, you might think that using more leather parts will result in a stronger and more durable product.
However, this is not the case.
The more parts used, the more sewn connections there are, and the more points at risk of problems such as frayed threads.
By manufacturing our products using the minimum number of parts and stitching, we are able to minimize the number of areas at risk of failure and create products that take advantage of the natural durability and firmness of leather.
Another advantage is that since the structure is simple, if it does break down in the future, it can be repaired quickly.
Related Blogs
Reasons for making leather products simply and minimally
02 Functionality.
Be functional.
Pursuing functionality from the "user's perspective"
When planning a product's structure and design, the most important thing is to " see it from the user's perspective ."
This may seem obvious at first glance, but it is actually very difficult.
We need to have a clear image of every aspect of the product, such as "why did we choose this design?" and "why did we adopt this structure?"
This is going to take time.
Some products have taken more than a year to plan, as we pursued the ideal shape.
However, we do not compromise on this because we believe that only by doing so thoroughly can we create products that people can truly feel are "easy to use."
Planning meetings and sample production until we are satisfied
At Munekawa, we place great importance on prototype production and planning meetings.
Whenever we create a new product, we make a prototype and our staff actually try using it in their daily lives.
When you do this, you will inevitably find some parts that seem difficult to use.
The impressions from actual use are shared with everyone at the weekly planning meeting, where suggestions for improvement are exchanged and further samples are produced based on the improvements.
In order to understand the "user's perspective," the production staff must "actually try using the product."
By repeating this process, we create a product that everyone can sell with confidence.
Related articles
Special page: The story behind the creation of the L-shaped zipper wallet Cram Long
Proven technical capabilities to realize functionality
To create products that are "easy to use and fit comfortably in the hand," a deep understanding of leather as a material and advanced technical skills are required.
For example, while increasing the thickness of the leather will increase its strength, the finished product will be heavy, less flexible, and more difficult to use.
We think about how to make the leather strong without making it too thick, and how to get closer to the ideal shape, and we often adjust the thickness of the leather in increments of 0.1 mm.
The difficulty of sewing also varies depending on the shape and structure of the product.
In particular, the production and sewing of parts with many curves requires advanced techniques.
Planning ability to turn ideas into reality, and a high level of technical ability and understanding of the material leather to turn those plans into reality.
All of these are essential elements in creating a product that is easy to use and fits comfortably in the hand.
03 Robustness
It is robust.
Robust construction for peace of mind
Leather accessories such as leather wallets, key cases, and business card holders are items that people often carry with them every day.
That is why it is so important for it to be durable so that you can use it with peace of mind.
What Munekawa values most in order to make strong and durable products is " knowing leather " and " taking the time ."
We take advantage of the characteristics and strengths of each piece of leather, and spare no effort in areas that require delicate techniques.
This ensures a level of usability and durability that will not change even after years of use.
Use pig leather for the lining
There are many cases where the outside looks good but the damage is from the inside.
Using leather for the lining is very important in order to maintain the strength of the entire product.
Munekawa uses Japanese pig leather as the lining material.
It has excellent durability and breathability, making it ideal as a lining material for leather accessories, which often contain hard items such as coins and keys.
By using pigskin, we are able to achieve both high strength and a thin, compact size.
Related Blogs
The charm of pigskin
Triple stitching for added strength
Parts that are opened when in use, such as flaps and pocket openings, are more likely to be subjected to stress.
At Munekawa, we use a " triple backstitch " when sewing these areas.
This creates strength even in moving parts, allowing you to use it with peace of mind.
Related Blogs
Beginning and Ending of Sewing
