Mendori by Artemide

Japanese fashion designer, Issey Miyake and his research team, Reality Lab, collaborated with Artemide to create the IN-EI Issey Miyake Collection. Issey and his team had been working on new technologies that can be applied in clothing and fashion. Using mathematical programs and 3D geometries, developed Jun Mitani. The IN-EI brand was brought to Artemide, who agreed to produce and distribute the lights. The principle behind this brand is that they use fibres entirely from PET recycled bottles. The material is then wrinkled, in order to create a unique look and strengthen it. The shade is unfolded, creating a spiral and attributing the light with a 3D, free-standing body without the need for an internal structure to hold it. Once the shade is completed, an additional surface treatment will allow it to keep its shape or re-shape it if needed. When not in use, the shade can be stored flat.

The IN-EI brand took inspiration from the book by Junichiro Tanizaki, In'ei Reisan which means in Praise of Shadows. The author hinted how differences of depths and shadow patterns could form subtle changes of light. Issey and his research team, aimed to bring that light quality into modern spaces.