Technology
Tue Dec 27,2016 4:00 am
“TSUNAGU”, a New Product Line of Luxury Pocketbook Type iPhone Cases, Featuring Yamanashi’s Traditional Crafts and Processing Techniques, Available in Store Now
Phonet Inc.
Combinations of manufacturing techniques of the products representing Yamanashi, including ‘Koshu Inden’ (lacquered deerskin leather), jewelry and ‘Gunnai textile”
For Immediate Release
December 21, 2016
Kofu City - December 21, 2016 - Phonet, a company which operates businesses in various fields as it is operating cell phone sales offices in Kofu City, Yamanashi, has started to sell “TSUNAGU”, a special product line of luxury pocketbook type iPhone cases, in its stores since December 20th. The products can be purchased on-line, too. Phonet plans to introduce “TSUNAGU” as luxury products of “Made in Japan” to the international markets as well as iPhone users in Japan.
“TSUNAGU” means ‘to connect’ in Japanese, and in this project, Phonet collaborated with three companies, leading the traditional craftwork industries in Yamanashi - Inden-Yamamoto, a traditional ‘Inden’ deerskin leather craft manufacturer and seller, Akiyama Co., Ltd., a jewelry manufacturing and a wholesaler, and Makita Shoten, a traditional Gunnai textile manufacturing and a wholesaler. The “TSUNAGU” series of iPhone cases feature high-quality materials and designs, which are concentrating the sophisticated processing techniques developed in Yamanashi. It is Phonet’s second collaborative project with local companies. In October 2013, they co-developed and launched ‘KOKU’, another product line of iPhone cases decollated with jewelries applied processing techniques developed in Yamanashi.
Product Concept of “TSUNAGU”
In Yamanashi, there are many local traditional craftwork industries that have been passed down through generations. This time, Phonet connected those ‘inherited’ traditional craftworks such as ‘Koshu Inden’, ‘jewelry’ and ‘Gunnai textile’ together to create a special product line. Additionally, the concept of this project is introducing local products from Yamanashi to overseas and connecting ‘Yamanashi’ and ‘Overseas’. This is why they named the products “TSUNAGU”.
▼ Information about “TSUNAGU” products: http://www.phonet.co.jp/tsunagu
■iPhone cases featuring traditional craft techniques developed in Yamanashi
As mentioned above, Phonet jointly developed “TSUNAGU” products with three local companies and a graphic designer in Yamanashi.
Inden-Yamamoto, an ‘Inden’ deerskin leather craft manufacturer and a seller:
‘Koshu Inden’ is a soft-textured, traditional deerskin leather product patterned with ‘Urushi’ (lacquer ‘Japan’). At Inden-Yamamoto, under the supervision by the only certified traditional craftsman of ‘Koshu Inden’ in Japan, it is manufacturing and selling the products. Also, for “TSUNAGU” products, it used its traditional techniques and employed new patterns and shapes, so that users can enjoy the combination of digital devices and traditional craftworks.
Akiyama Co., Ltd., a Jewelry manufacturing and a wholesaler:
Yamanashi is famous for jewelry production, utilizing abrasive machining technologies developed in this area. Akiyama Co., Ltd. has manufactured jewelries and metal ornaments to decollate “TSUNAGU” iPhone cases. They put a lot of thoughts into the form and finishing touches to use jewelries and metal ornaments for decoration without damaging good points and tastes of ‘Inden’. Users will be able to appreciate the cut of large-sized stones and the effect given by metal ornaments.
Makita Shoten, a Gunnai textile manufacturing and a wholesaler:
Textile in Yamanashi has roots in ‘Kaiki’ (Kai silk) that has been a local special product in this area since Edo period. Makita Shoten also originally was weaving ‘Kaiki’. Now it is equipped with large-scale weaving machines and manufacturing umbrellas and textiles. This time, it produced satin fabrics with the “TSUNAGU” logo and applied the same treatments done for umbrellas to improve its repellency and waterproof performances.
Shinya Wakaoka, a Graphic designer living in Yamanashi:
When designed iPhone cases for “TSUNAGU” series, he put efforts in making use of each material’s qualities and characteristics based on the concept, ‘Connect various images of Yamanashi by technologies of local industries there.
■“TSUNAGU “ product outline
Poduct name: TSUNAGU
Released: December 20th, 2016
Size (men’s and women’s, when the case is closed):
Height 146mm
Width 80mm
Depth 20mm (including jewelries)
Total weight:
Men’s model: 60g
Women’s model: 61g
Materials:
Outside (Cover part): Inden (lacquered deerskin leather)
Jewelries:
-Men’s model
Precious metals: Silver 925 Stone: Onyx Finishing: Oxidized finish
-Women’s model
Precious metals: Silver 925 Stone: Garnet Finishing: Nickel and rhodium plating
Inside: Polyester 100%
Weaving: Gunnai textile (yarn dyed jacquard)
Suggested retail price: 39,800 JPY (excluding tax)
Available at:
All Phonet stores
Phonet’s website (Phonet mall) at http://store.shopping.yahoo.co.jp/phonetmall/
Fujisan World Heritage Center
Inquiries from the media/ To become a sales agent:
Please contact Hirotaka Ashizawa at Phonet by the phone at +81-55-223-6622.
Inquiries regarding the products:
Please contact Daisuke Takahashi at Phonet by the phone at +81-55-237-1622.
■About Phonet
Head Office: 2-10-6, Shimoishida, Kofu City, Yamanashi 400-0046 Japan
Representative: Eiichi Shimizu CEO
Establishment: May 1998
TEL: + 81-55-237-1622
URL: http://www.phonet.jp/
Business description: Operation of cell phone sales companies, cell phone recycling business and implementation of regional vitalization projects
#####
For more information, please contact:
Takahiro Ashizawa
Phonet
E-mail: takahiro-ashizawa@phonet-gr.jp
+81- 55-223-6622
http://www.phonet.jp/
December 21, 2016
Kofu City - December 21, 2016 - Phonet, a company which operates businesses in various fields as it is operating cell phone sales offices in Kofu City, Yamanashi, has started to sell “TSUNAGU”, a special product line of luxury pocketbook type iPhone cases, in its stores since December 20th. The products can be purchased on-line, too. Phonet plans to introduce “TSUNAGU” as luxury products of “Made in Japan” to the international markets as well as iPhone users in Japan.
“TSUNAGU” means ‘to connect’ in Japanese, and in this project, Phonet collaborated with three companies, leading the traditional craftwork industries in Yamanashi - Inden-Yamamoto, a traditional ‘Inden’ deerskin leather craft manufacturer and seller, Akiyama Co., Ltd., a jewelry manufacturing and a wholesaler, and Makita Shoten, a traditional Gunnai textile manufacturing and a wholesaler. The “TSUNAGU” series of iPhone cases feature high-quality materials and designs, which are concentrating the sophisticated processing techniques developed in Yamanashi. It is Phonet’s second collaborative project with local companies. In October 2013, they co-developed and launched ‘KOKU’, another product line of iPhone cases decollated with jewelries applied processing techniques developed in Yamanashi.
Product Concept of “TSUNAGU”
In Yamanashi, there are many local traditional craftwork industries that have been passed down through generations. This time, Phonet connected those ‘inherited’ traditional craftworks such as ‘Koshu Inden’, ‘jewelry’ and ‘Gunnai textile’ together to create a special product line. Additionally, the concept of this project is introducing local products from Yamanashi to overseas and connecting ‘Yamanashi’ and ‘Overseas’. This is why they named the products “TSUNAGU”.
▼ Information about “TSUNAGU” products: http://www.phonet.co.jp/tsunagu
■iPhone cases featuring traditional craft techniques developed in Yamanashi
As mentioned above, Phonet jointly developed “TSUNAGU” products with three local companies and a graphic designer in Yamanashi.
Inden-Yamamoto, an ‘Inden’ deerskin leather craft manufacturer and a seller:
‘Koshu Inden’ is a soft-textured, traditional deerskin leather product patterned with ‘Urushi’ (lacquer ‘Japan’). At Inden-Yamamoto, under the supervision by the only certified traditional craftsman of ‘Koshu Inden’ in Japan, it is manufacturing and selling the products. Also, for “TSUNAGU” products, it used its traditional techniques and employed new patterns and shapes, so that users can enjoy the combination of digital devices and traditional craftworks.
Akiyama Co., Ltd., a Jewelry manufacturing and a wholesaler:
Yamanashi is famous for jewelry production, utilizing abrasive machining technologies developed in this area. Akiyama Co., Ltd. has manufactured jewelries and metal ornaments to decollate “TSUNAGU” iPhone cases. They put a lot of thoughts into the form and finishing touches to use jewelries and metal ornaments for decoration without damaging good points and tastes of ‘Inden’. Users will be able to appreciate the cut of large-sized stones and the effect given by metal ornaments.
Makita Shoten, a Gunnai textile manufacturing and a wholesaler:
Textile in Yamanashi has roots in ‘Kaiki’ (Kai silk) that has been a local special product in this area since Edo period. Makita Shoten also originally was weaving ‘Kaiki’. Now it is equipped with large-scale weaving machines and manufacturing umbrellas and textiles. This time, it produced satin fabrics with the “TSUNAGU” logo and applied the same treatments done for umbrellas to improve its repellency and waterproof performances.
Shinya Wakaoka, a Graphic designer living in Yamanashi:
When designed iPhone cases for “TSUNAGU” series, he put efforts in making use of each material’s qualities and characteristics based on the concept, ‘Connect various images of Yamanashi by technologies of local industries there.
■“TSUNAGU “ product outline
Poduct name: TSUNAGU
Released: December 20th, 2016
Size (men’s and women’s, when the case is closed):
Height 146mm
Width 80mm
Depth 20mm (including jewelries)
Total weight:
Men’s model: 60g
Women’s model: 61g
Materials:
Outside (Cover part): Inden (lacquered deerskin leather)
Jewelries:
-Men’s model
Precious metals: Silver 925 Stone: Onyx Finishing: Oxidized finish
-Women’s model
Precious metals: Silver 925 Stone: Garnet Finishing: Nickel and rhodium plating
Inside: Polyester 100%
Weaving: Gunnai textile (yarn dyed jacquard)
Suggested retail price: 39,800 JPY (excluding tax)
Available at:
All Phonet stores
Phonet’s website (Phonet mall) at http://store.shopping.yahoo.co.jp/phonetmall/
Fujisan World Heritage Center
Inquiries from the media/ To become a sales agent:
Please contact Hirotaka Ashizawa at Phonet by the phone at +81-55-223-6622.
Inquiries regarding the products:
Please contact Daisuke Takahashi at Phonet by the phone at +81-55-237-1622.
■About Phonet
Head Office: 2-10-6, Shimoishida, Kofu City, Yamanashi 400-0046 Japan
Representative: Eiichi Shimizu CEO
Establishment: May 1998
TEL: + 81-55-237-1622
URL: http://www.phonet.jp/
Business description: Operation of cell phone sales companies, cell phone recycling business and implementation of regional vitalization projects
#####
For more information, please contact:
Takahiro Ashizawa
Phonet
E-mail: takahiro-ashizawa@phonet-gr.jp
+81- 55-223-6622
http://www.phonet.jp/
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