Clothes.
We just can't stop buying them, can we?
Why is that?
Even though we have more than enough to last us a lifetime.
No matter how old I get, my desire for material things
just doesn't fade away.
I thought that once I reached a certain age and became a proper adult,
I'd be able to control that aspect of myself.
But seeing our director, who's in her 40s, gives me little hope.
It's not what I expected. LOL.
*This is an image.
And then,
the amount of clothes I have versus the storage space,
there's just not enough! (Angry face)
Talking about this with the director, I realized that if two of us are struggling,
there must be many more people facing the same problem.
"Alright, if that's the case, why don't BasShu and I
create a cool storage solution for clothes lovers?"
Whether those exact words were spoken or not is unclear, but
this was the beginning of a long journey.
There must be other people out there with the same problem! Surely!
That's all we had to go on. LOL.
--
Even after we started, we pondered what form it should take. Then, I remembered something I often saw in vintage clothing stores:
the French military folding cabinet.
What's great about it is that it can be compactly folded,
transported, and offers ample storage capacity for military camp movements.
This is it!
However, being a vintage item and not a current product,
it had its good points and its drawbacks.
It would be better if it could hold more hangers.
It would be better if it were easier to assemble.
It would be better if it were sturdier.
It would be better if the size was a bit more compact.
After considering these and other points, stepping back from the initial idea,
it took a full two years to finalize the design to our satisfaction.
It was a long process, truly.
And now,
here are the completed cabinets, in three colors.
Utility Cabinet Covering C/#1: Olive
fabric: Ripstop, Cotton 100%
33,000yen +tax ※本体別売り
>> Price and specifications changed from 2017.
New models (OLIVE, BEIGE / ¥22,000) are here
Utility Cabinet Covering C/#2: Camo
fabric: CamoPrint, Cotton 70% Nylon 30%
33,000yen +tax ※本体別売り
Utility Cabinet Covering C/#3: Denim BL
fabric: Japan Denim, Cotton 100% (bleach wash)
42,000yen +tax ※本体別売り
Utility Cabinet : col. nickel BLK
material. Steel
16,800yen +tax ※カバー別売り
First, I'll introduce the specifications of the cabinet cover in OLIVE.
*My height is 162cm, for reference.
The cabinet itself measures
173cm in height, 91.5cm in width, and 46cm in depth.
We designed it to be compact so it wouldn't feel imposing even in a one-room apartment in the city center.
On the left side, there's one D-ring and two 3D pockets.
For the fabric, we used tough, striking Japanese ripstop cotton.
The color is OLIVE.
We chose a calm, slightly warmer tone than khaki,
to blend well with interior decor.
Right side: two D-rings, five pockets.
And one hidden pocket.
*OLIVE and CAMO have brand labels on the inner pocket and left pocket flap.
Inside, there are 8 tapes to secure the cover.
And then,
if a friend suddenly comes over, or you want to hide the clutter,
you pull down the two zippers on the front.
And then,
you open it again.
This manual rolling up is a bit tedious.
(The trick is to fold it twice in big folds first.)
It's easy to secure with velcro.
Furthermore, the top plate of the cabinet itself is very sturdy,
so you can effectively use the space up to the ceiling.
For example, for suitcases.
This is probably how it would typically be used.
Next,
we'll move on to the cabinet body and camo.