An interview with Yoko and Koji Arai of Eatable of Many Orders,designers based in Atami, Japan.
The line is centered around the concept of "Eatable," in which products are purely constructed from natural,'edible' materials. Whimsical and imaginative, the line of sculpted leather accessories and clothing incorporates traditional methods of plant-based hand-dyeing, embroidery, and weaving.
+ biographyKoji: Graduated with a degree in Architecture from Tama Art University in Tokyo and a degree in fashion from the Royal Academy of Antwerpen.Yoko: Graduated with a degree in fashion design from Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles.
The couple met while Koji studied at the Royal Academy and Yoko worked as a design assistant at Bernhard Wilhelm in Paris.
In 2007, the couple returned to the coastal town of Atami to launch Eatable, which was later renamed Eatable of Many Orders.
+ what inspires you?Timeless beauty created by masters mostly from the pastColors that Monet mixed on canvasOld Hermès leather handles that look like wood
Things that add challenges in life

+ could you describe a typical dayDomestic routine with three children at home and atelier.Waking up at 6:30am, making hot soup for breakfast, changing clothes and feeding them all. Taking them to school/nursery by 8:30am, cleaning and laundry by 9am, call in for morning meeting with staff.Going downstairs for leather atelier or going up to do office workAt noon, cooking lunch for everyone and finish with coffee and sweets...work work work.5 pm pick up three girls at school,cook dinner, take bath, and have a good sleep!
+ what are your favorites places to visit in Atami?Himenosawa Park, where athletic wooden play gyms are built in the mountain walks, with beautiful viewsVilla Del Sol, best restaurant and building Gallery Sooko, an open atelier run by friend and sculptor, Kenji Misawa

+ favorite magazine, books, and musicMANY OF THEM, a magazine by a friendAn essay by Naoya ShigaI like to dance to hip hop and R&B
Koji likes to read about all sorts of things, right now about sheep and vegetables (genetics, IT farms, viruses…etc).
Koji likes all sorts of music. He has 1000 records on the shelves.

+ what are your winter essentialsHand spun, woven shawl Olive oil for skin and hot spa
Thank you, Yoko and Koji!View our collection of Eatable of Many Orders here