Irodori — Expressing Japan’s Seasons Through Leather

Japan’s four seasons cannot be captured in a single colour.

 

Spring does not end abruptly, nor does summer begin with a clear boundary.
The intensity of light, the scent of the air, the temperature of the wind —
everything shifts gradually, overlapping as one season gives way to the next.

When we first began thinking about Irodori, we asked ourselves a simple question:

What would happen if we tried to express Japan’s seasons through leather?

 

Choosing gradation, not a single colour

As we reflected on this question, one thing became clear.

The beauty of the seasons does not lie in sharp contrasts or clear divisions.
It exists in the subtle transitions between colours —
the moments that are difficult to describe, yet deeply felt.

That is why, for Irodori, we chose not to express the seasons through a single colour,
but through gradation.

Rather than selecting one definitive shade,
we wanted to honour the gentle movement that exists between colours.

 

Born from a single hide, shaped by hand

Irodori is crafted using goat leather, valued for its lightness, softness, and durability.

Each piece begins with a single, large hide,
carefully dyed by hand to create a gradual flow of colour.
At this stage alone, no two hides are ever exactly the same.

Standing before that one hide, artisans take time to observe its character.
They consider where to cut, which sections to use for each part,
and how different tones should be combined
so that the gradation appears at its most beautiful.

This is not a mechanical process.
It is closer to a quiet dialogue with the leather itself.

Through these decisions, every piece is born with its own expression.
Even within the same colour name, no two are identical.

 

Evolving through colour — Tri Color

While Irodori began with gentle, flowing gradations,
our exploration of colour continues to evolve.

In our latest collection, we introduce three new colourways,
including a new expression we call Tri Color.

By working with three colours within a single piece,
we explored how contrast and harmony can coexist —
not as sharp divisions, but as layers that quietly overlap.

Even in this new expression, our intention remains the same:
not to define, but to accompany.
Not to choose for someone, but to leave space for individuality.

 

Quiet presence, lasting companionship

The gradation of Irodori is not meant to make a statement.

It exists to gently accompany the person who carries it —
their clothing, their mood, and the way time gradually leaves its mark.

On different days, it may appear slightly different.
At unexpected moments, it may suddenly feel just right.

We value this quiet relationship,
where colour becomes something you live with,
rather than something you must decide on.

 

Sharing Irodori in Singapore

Today, we share Irodori in Singapore.

Singapore, too, is a place that cannot be described through a single expression.
Cultures, values, and ways of life overlap naturally,
without being clearly separated.

In such a city, a person’s sense of self is rarely one-dimensional.
The self at work, the self at home,
the self that emerges in moments of solitude —
all are equally real.

There is no need to choose just one.

 

Like gradation, gently accompanying who you are

Irodori does not exist to define you.

It exists so that, in the flow of everyday life,
you might quietly feel,

“This is who I am, right now.”

There is no need to explain.
No need to rush toward an answer.

Like gradation,
Irodori avoids sharp borders,
gently accompanying each moment as it passes.

Just as Japan’s seasons remain close to everyday life,
we hope Irodori will also become something that naturally stays with you —
present without insistence,
and felt rather than declared.

That is what Irodori means to us.