"IN-EI" - Japanese for "shadow, shadiness, nuance". The art of lighting has a
conceptual and technological heritage at the Miyake Design Studio, dating back to
2010, when Issey Miyake and his research and development team called Reality
Lab., presented 132 5. ISSEY MIYAKE. This new process was developed using a
mathematical program with 3-D geometric principals by Jun Mitani. 132 5. ISSEY
MIYAKE is an extremely ingenious way by which to make clothing, and a process
that provides yet another example of directions the quest for innovative textiles
technologies can take. The project comes from the intersection of creativity and
mathematics, resulting in clothing that can be folded flat and become 3D shapes,
starting from a single piece of cloth. As the Reality Lab. explored 132 5. ISSEY
MIYAKE’s potential in areas beyond clothing, a natural extension of the process was
lighting products. IN-EI ISSEY MIYAKE was born from a collaboration with Artemide
marrying their lighting expertise with the Lab.’s innovative approach to the material
and design. The IN-EI ISSEY MIYAKE lighting collection was co-developed and
manufactured by Artemide. It is a collection of free-standing, table and hanging
lights. Each lampshade is created using 2 or 3D mathematic principals, where light
and shade harmoniously alternate. Miyake’s unique folding technology creates both
statuesque forms as well as sufficient solidity. The structure of the recycled material,
together with an additional surface treatment allows these shades to perfectly keep
their shape without the need for internal frame, and to be re-shaped when needed.
They can be easily stored flat when not in use.