Keisuke Shoda is an art director who creates works both in Japan and overseas. STUDIO THE BLUE BOY, which he founded, is a brand that combines traditional Japanese crafts from various regions with modern design. It offers products that utilize the craftsmanship of each region, such as rugs woven in Kyoto, incense produced in Tochigi, incense holders made from Hasami ware in Nagasaki, and tatami mats from Fukuoka.
Shoda, who originally worked as an art director, started crafting when he began thinking, "I want to create things I want to make," and held his first solo exhibition in Paris. From there, his work gradually expanded to include rugs, ceramics, and fabrics. Today, his refined craftsmanship is supported both domestically and internationally.
Currently, Shoda is working on a project called The House of Blue Boy. It is a house gallery that he and his partner are gradually furnishing in Shizuoka, with a view of Mt. Fuji. 
Everything placed here, from interior decorations to furniture, including Mino ware tiles made in Tajimi, stained glass brackets made in New Zealand, and original outdoor chairs woven with polyester rope onto an aluminum frame, are items that Shoda himself carefully selected or created, focusing on materials and usability. This house, filled only with things he loves, is an extension of Shoda's creative work. As people who love people and cherish sharing time with others, they aim to create a warm space where visitors can slowly converse.
The collaboration was also sparked by The House of Blue Boy. Shoda, who had created Banshu-ori cotton fabric for a sofa, wondered if it could be incorporated into everyday items. He consulted Hasegawa, the representative of QUILTO, whom he admired, and that's how it began. 
"The basis of my craft is to create things that are practical, comfortable, and pleasant to the touch, always from the user's perspective," says Shoda. Since the sofa in his Tokyo home was made of polyester, and he was concerned about stuffiness and skin irritation in the summer, he chose 100% cotton Banshu-ori for The House of Blue Boy sofa due to its pleasant feel. However, cotton has durability challenges as a sofa material. Therefore, he collaborated with the fabric manufacturer to add resin processing to ensure its strength. This approach, starting from the user's sensation and working with craftsmen who understand the properties of materials, is typical of Shoda's method.
Banshu-ori, which developed mainly in Nishiwaki, Hyogo, is a Japanese weaving culture that creates delicate colors and patterns with pre-dyed yarns. It is a familiar production area for Shoda, as STUDIO THE BLUE BOY has already used it in several products, such as sachet fabrics. The pattern of this fabric is an abstract combination of circles, squares, and ovals, inspired by the nature surrounding The House of Blue Boy, such as mountains, trees, and lakes. 
By using white for the warp and combining two shades of blue, a gradient is expressed. It doesn't obstruct the view from the large windows of the house, yet it's not simply plain. As Shoda says, "It's meaningless to weave if it's too plain, and it won't blend into the space if it's too intense." This balance was carefully considered, starting from the selection of thread colors. The blue gradient, chosen with conscious thought to harmonize with nature, based on The House of Blue Boy's color palette of ice blue, madder, and pastel green, gives the slippers a soft yet definite presence.
Shoda had also been using QUILTO's EGG SLIPPER. His idea to incorporate this Banshu-ori fabric into slippers stemmed from his desire to share a little of The House of Blue Boy's atmosphere in everyday life. It's not just a product, but something that subtly changes the atmosphere of a space. This resonates with what QUILTO values. 
Underlying Shoda's craftsmanship is the desire to "not create things that will quickly bore people and be thrown away." He creates durable items by carefully selecting materials and collaborating with craftsmen. He believes that the strength of Japanese traditional crafts and folk art lies there, and that by bringing in new perspectives from outside and elevating them through design, "completely new things" are born. He mentioned that this is the current palette, but it might change with time, and he's okay with that, which left a strong impression.
The House of Blue Boy aims to be a place where creators gather, and dialogue and ideas are born through works and craftsmanship from around the world. Visiting The House of Blue Boy and listening to Shoda's stories, and seeing these Banshu-ori slippers placed in that space, reaffirmed that this project is truly special.
PHOTO & TEXT by Wataru Tsuchiya (Studio QUILTO)
EGG SLIPPER × STUDIO THE BLUE BOY using Banshu-ori cotton fabric. Limited quantities will be available for purchase online at STUDIO THE BLUE BOY at 21:00 JST on May 12.
EGG SLIPPER - House of Blue Boy / Day - price ¥13,200 (tax included)
EGG SLIPPER - House of Blue Boy / Night - price ¥13,200 (tax included) 
