As previously announced, taupe D.Motoike.
"Artisan's belt".
Today, I'll be describing what kind of belt Mr. Motoike creates, and I'll also include a "startling fact," so those considering it can read on to better understand what it's all about.
Well, I expect this blog post to be quite long.
First, let me tell you that this time, it will be a made-to-order system.
The maximum number has already been set. Additional production is not possible.
From Saturday, the 23rd, the almost complete "Artisan's belt" will be displayed in stores.
Since all of them are created by Mr. Motoike in his atelier, strictly speaking, each one is a unique piece.
Please choose the "individual that catches your eye."
Then, those who order will determine the "hole position" that suits them using a size sample, and then Mr. Motoike will "punch the holes."
According to the position of the holes, the belt itself will be finished to the "appropriate total length" for the owner, and we plan to deliver it around mid-December, or by the end of the year at the latest.
Also, although not many this time, taupe D.Motoike's core collection jewelry will also be displayed and sold.
All jewelry displayed in the store during the period will be available for immediate take-home.
Only the belt will be delivered at a later date.
That concludes the preliminary information.
From here, those who are interested, please take a careful look.
"Artisan's belt"
※Sold out
This is it.
The "Artisan's belt," for which we will begin taking orders from interested customers on Saturday, November 23rd.
I myself have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to introduce this belt for several years.
First, I'll tell you about it in this blog.
<The Reason for the Birth of the Artisan's Belt>
Apparently, this belt was not originally developed by Mr. Motoike as a product.
Mr. Motoike himself tends to lean forward when working in his atelier.
This photo shows the buckle of the Artisan's belt being made in the atelier.
Apparently, he's mostly bent over in the atelier like this.
He said that working for long hours in light clothing such as shorts or easy pants puts a heavy strain on the body.
Therefore, firmly supporting the lower back seems to alleviate that burden.
However, even when sitting, the leather needs to be flexible enough to move with the body, and when leaning forward, a buckle of a typical size would hit the stomach, causing pain and becoming a nuisance.
When working for a long time, even the belt worn by the craftsman himself is an important tool for manufacturing, he said.
That's why the impetus was creating a belt that allowed him to focus on his work and didn't strain his body. From there, other craftsmen around Mr. Motoike also requested it, and it gradually spread.
In other words, it is a belt designed for the functionality of a craftsman.
That's why it's named "Artisan's belt."
It can be said that it naturally emerged from Mr. Motoike's own long years of craftsmanship.
Wonderful.
Now, I will explain the leather of the Artisan's belt that we are selling at our store.
<About the leather used this time>
As I wrote in the previous blog, the Artisan's belt is only made when Mr. Motoike obtains what he considers to be "the best leather."
However, this time, it's not just exceptional; it's extraordinary leather.
It's fair to say that only Mr. Motoike could have obtained this leather. Seriously.
And, as I mentioned yesterday, Mr. Motoike told me that "CASANOVA is very lucky."
That leather was the only sample piece that came into Japan from France.
The name of the tannery is,
"GAL."
If you check Mr. Motoike's Instagram, he has posted images of the GAL tannery building, timed with this announcement.
This is the only piece of leather made by "GAL" that came into Japan.
It is bridle leather for equestrian equipment.
And as mentioned earlier, GAL is a French tannery.
French bridle leather, when you think about it normally, seems very rare.
One tends to associate "bridle leather = UK."
I myself had never seen French bridle leather before.
Mr. Motoike said that the bridle leather made by "GAL" is completely different from British bridle leather.
Someone of Mr. Motoike's caliber, with his many years of experience, can tell the quality of leather just by looking at it, and indeed, Mr. Motoike himself is producing this Artisan's belt.
He said he felt the difference more clearly when cutting a single piece of leather during the production process.
When cutting leather, venerable British bridle leather, to quote Mr. Motoike, "has fluffy fibers."
However, with GAL's leather, when cutting it, he felt resistance from the fibers, and could sense that the fibers were very densely packed.
In fact, even someone of Mr. Motoike's level had never seen GAL's leather before, as it hadn't entered Japan. He said that by going through the usual belt production process, he was able to "feel the difference in GAL's leather quality."
A genuine "single-piece" belt with no lining or stitching.
And even more surprisingly...
Look at this.
This "thickness."
It's an amazing 5mm thick leather.
Apparently, leather that is "5mm thick" after tanning has almost ceased to exist today.
That's why Mr. Motoike said that "the best leather for belts" is becoming hard to find, and the brand has made almost no Artisan's belts this year.
Such thick leather is only possible with "the latest technology" or "techniques unchanged for 100 years."
This time, the GAL leather that Mr. Motoike prepared for CASANOVA&CO as an Artisan's belt, as mentioned earlier, was the only piece that he was able to bring into Japan.
Isn't that amazing?
It's a large piece of leather, 5mm thick in its raw state.
Normally, leather is rolled up for storage.
However, this leather is quite thick, yet supple and very resilient, making it impossible to roll up, apparently.
But, when it's cut into a 2.5cm width for a belt, it can be rolled up.
Mr. Motoike said, "It's a mysterious leather."
Despite being 5mm thick leather, it has a very fine grain, and the edges are said to be finished only with a wooden spatula.
It's a historical leather, made for "equestrian equipment" and touching horses directly, so it's very carefully tanned.
Strong, beautiful, and the real thing exudes an aura that makes it seem more than just a belt. This is truly astonishing.
And normally, belts and leather goods are typically finished with resin-based materials for the details, he said.
However, equestrian equipment itself does not have resin coatings.
While fashion accessories are coated, the origin of this leather is "equestrian equipment."
Therefore, to make the most of the superb quality of the leather, it was kept as natural as possible.
And to begin with, this leather is calf bridle leather.
The tanning is full vegetable tanning using "oak bark."
And not only that, but it's not drum tanning or anything similar. Mr. Motoike says that for leather of this thickness, the components can only penetrate the leather through a slow, long tanning process in large "pit vats."
And then there's "GAL," which produces such high-quality leather over a very long time.
<GAL Company>
GAL is apparently little known in Japan.
In fact, there are tanneries, especially common in England and France, that are "protected domestically" within their own countries. GAL is one such tannery.
Such tanneries often deal only with top-tier domestic companies.
For Japanese people to know about it means it's distributed in Japan.
To put it in more technical terms, it means they "have an account in Japan."
So, what exactly is "GAL," whose leather is being used this time?
GAL is one of the oldest tanneries in France.
The year of its founding is not publicly disclosed, but it's said to be over 100 years old.
And...
It is a tannery exclusively for HERMES, and specifically, it tans only the leather used for "HERMES equestrian equipment."
That's why GAL also has a workshop for making equestrian equipment.
HERMES' equestrian equipment still uses GAL leather.
As a tannery, GAL only tans leather for equestrian equipment.
Only leather that touches horses, he said.
They don't make leather for bags or shoes, and of course, no belts.
Because they specialize in equestrian equipment.
Yes.
GAL's leather, for a belt, is a first.
This event, which I had been nurturing for several years, happened to coincide with Mr. Motoike obtaining this leather—a super miracle occurred.
And this Artisan's belt.
Not only is the aforementioned super-specialty leather fantastic, but the buckle is also superb.
At taupe D.Motoike, Mr. Motoike uses "pure silver (SILVER 999)."
Generally, when we talk about silver, it's silver 925.
But Mr. Motoike chooses "pure silver."
Not only with leather, but also with precious metals, after many years of craftsmanship, he was drawn to the pure texture of the material, feeling the natural brilliance and smooth touch that "pure silver" possesses, rather than silver 925, and uses it in his brand.
This "pure silver buckle" is also entirely crafted by Mr. Motoike himself in his atelier.
Each one has a different expression.
Neither the main pure silver buckle nor the pin use solder, meaning there are no seams at all.
And the characteristic bumpy surface texture.
Pure silver melts at about 1000°C, apparently.
It's the natural state of pure silver after being melted at 1000°C and solidifying.
Mr. Motoike said that this "shimmering" state is the "raw" appearance of pure silver.
I thought it was a hammered finish, created by striking with a hammer or similar tool.
But it's not.
It's a finish where the pure silver is simply melted and solidified, maximizing its natural appearance, feel, and luster.
While the surface retains the natural appearance of pure silver, only the sides are polished.
The words "silver 999" are proof of pure silver.
These letters are also incredibly cool.
For the Artisan's belt, the pure silver buckles are reportedly made with slightly different finishes and specifications each time.
This time, as I've said many times, it has been realized using incredibly astonishing leather called "GAL."
Out of respect for the leather's origin as "equestrian equipment," Mr. Motoike created it with a finish that evokes a harness for horses.
The most natural and simple finish that brings out the best in the leather.
Thanks to that, I think you'll feel the fine texture, robustness, high quality, allure, and overwhelming power no matter how you look at it.
When I saw the finished product, I trembled with excitement and was so deeply moved that I immediately contacted Mr. Motoike.
This is the first time in my life I've been so impressed by a belt.
As I said yesterday, it's by far the best finish I've ever encountered.
I can confidently say that about the "Artisan's belt."
I am convinced, after seeing the real thing, that no one but Daisuke Motoike could create a belt of this level.
Indeed, a specialist is best at their own trade.
Among them, I feel that what is created by someone who has dedicated many years to this kind of craftsmanship, thoroughly researching it, accumulating experience, and honing their skills, is truly, truly irreplaceable and cannot be substituted.
Those who will be able to get their hands on this Artisan's belt are inevitably limited, and we've used up all of the "only piece of leather" that came into Japan this time.
Therefore, to those who do get this, please experience from the bottom of your heart the amazing craftsmanship of Daisuke Motoike and the skill of this historic tannery.
When I spoke with Mr. Motoike himself, he said:
"This time, I was able to use GAL's leather, which has been protected within France.
While making it, I thought, 'This belt is an "hybrid of tradition and modernity" Artisan's belt.'"
"Traditional techniques" of leather tanning passed down by craftsmen at a tannery with a 100-year history.
Daisuke Motoike, a "modern creator."
Sales at CASANOVA&CO, a "modern communicator."
And "modern users" who will actually hold the Artisan's belt in their hands.
I believe it is truly precious to be able to connect in this way through a single belt.
I think this is what "truly valuable" means.
For those considering, please visit taupe D.Motoike
"Artisan's belt 2024"
Please take a look.