TOKYO — Issey Miyake’s “In-ei” lamps, which won the Gold Medal at the iF Product Design Award 2013 hosted by the International Forum Design Hannover, Germany, are currently being showcased at a special exhibition located in two of his stores until June 30 — Elttob Tep Issey Miyake in Tokyo’s Ginza district, and Semba in Osaka.
Conceptualized and refined by Miyake’s research and development team Reality Lab, the In-ei lamps, consisting of free-standing, table, and hanging lights, were then handed over to the renowned Italian lighting manufacturer Artemide, who produced the final versions using recycled paper and other materials.
The name “In-ei” was inspired by Junichiro Tanizaki’s classic work of literature, “In Praise of Shadows (In-ei Reisan),” which extols the beauty of the muted lighting and soft gloom often found in traditional Japanese interior spaces.
Using an innovative design process developed by Jun Mitani based on a mathematical program and 3D geometric principles, the In-ei lamps are an extension of the investigations into textile technologies that Issey Miyake first made to produce his celebrated “Pleats Please” line of clothing.
The illumination offered by these lamps strikes a delicate, alternating balance between light and shade. In addition, their structure allows them to retain their shape perfectly without the need for an internal frame, while also giving users the option of reshaping them as desired. They can also be collapsed and easily stored flat when not in use.