In conjunction with the exhibition Design Discoveries: Towards a DESIGN MUSEUM JAPAN, which is on display from 15 May to 8 September 2024, Japan House London is delighted to welcome textile design innovator and creative Sudō Reiko for a series of events exploring behind-the-scenes insights into her own ‘design discovery’, as well as her own broader work with NUNO in textiles and sustainability.

For this first event, as one of seven guest contributors to the Design Discoveries exhibition, Sudō presents the official Japan team shirts created for the 2019 Rugby World Cup as her own design treasure. The shirts are inspired by the Tsuzawa Yotaka Andon Festival of Oyabe City in Toyama Prefecture, a district renowned for its thriving manufacturing tradition.

Goldwin Inc., originating as a knit fabric manufacturer in Toyama’s Oyabe district, began producing sportswear in 1951. By the 1970s, inspired by the Andon Lantern Festival, the company shifted to crafting 3D skiwear, a technique later applied to the jerseys for Japan’s national rugby team in the 2019 Rugby World Cup. These jerseys, made with cutting-edge 3D moulding technology, offer a precise fit, tear resistance, quick drying, and remarkable lightness, reminiscent of the washi (lit. ‘Japanese paper’) used for the festival’s andon lanterns.

Adorned with symbols of ancient Japan in the white segments of their design, the shirts not only embody Japan’s cultural heritage but also feature precise pattern-making and cutting that allow for the absorption of movement, a thorough process comparable to haute couture design.

During the event, Sudō is joined in conversation by Japan House London’s Programming Director Simon Wright for an in-depth conversation on her creative journey and her contributions to the exhibition.

The event starts at 18:30 and lasts for about one hour.

This event is the first in a three-part series featuring Sudō Reiko offering insight into Japan House London’s exhibition Design Discoveries: Towards a DESIGN MUSEUM JAPAN. It is followed on Friday 16 August with a special workshop using NUNO textiles, and on Saturday 17 August with a livestreamed talk focussing on the significance of Sudō Reiko’s broader work over the years. Sudō also visits V&A Dundee on Monday 19 August for two guided tours highlighting her contribution to their Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk exhibition.

Please note that filming and photography may take place at this event. Photos and footage of the event may then be used to promote Japan House London, helping more people to discover what we offer. If you have any concerns, please contact us online or contact a member of the team on site.

About the collaborator

Sudō Reiko

Born in Ibaraki Prefecture, Sudō is president of textile design firm Nuno Co Ltd. and Professor Emerita at Tokyo Zōkei University. Since 2008, she has worked as a textile design consultant for various organizations including Ryōhin Keikaku (Muji) and the Tsuruoka Textile Industry Cooperative in Yamagata Prefecture, among others. In 2016, she joined the advisory board of Ryōhin Keikaku. Sudō’s awards include the Mainichi Design Award, the ROSCOE Design Prize, the Japan Interior Design Association (JID) Award, and the Enku Award. She uses a wide range of techniques from Japanese dyeing and weaving traditions to state-of-the-art technology to make her new textiles. Sudō’s works have been included in the permanent collections of The Museum of Modern Art and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Los Angeles County Museum of Art; Victoria and Albert Museum, London; National Crafts Museum, Tokyo and other institutions.