rareraw x MOHEIM - SWING BIN special collaboration model - Part1

—— Please tell us about the brand “rareraw.”

Shige
“rareraw” is a Korean design brand that focuses on minimalist furniture and interior products, creating a variety of stylish and functional items.

The brand creates practical and original products with essential materials and perspectives. This concept can also be found in the two words that make up the brand’s name: ‘rare’ and ‘raw’. It is designed to produce special results by using “raw” materials and extracting only their essence.

Using materials that embody the essence of contemporary minimalism, such as powder-coated metal and laser-cut parts, rareraw is known for furniture that emphasises clean aesthetics and flexibility.

It is no exaggeration to say that “rareraw” is one of the most promising brands in Korea today.

—— How did the collaboration with rareraw begin?

Shige
In October 2023, we had a chance to visit Korea. At that time, I happened to see rareraw’s MERGE series at a shop. That was my first encounter with rareraw, and I thought it was a great brand with good taste. I bought a MERGE holder and bookend at the rareraw’s POP UP shop in a department store. At the same time, I approached rareraw, saying, “It would be nice if we could do something together…”

Soon after that, rareraw contacted us without much time and said that they would like to consider realizing a collaboration. Gradually, after a few online meetings, the CEO of rareraw came to MOHEIM’s showroom in Tokyo at the end of 2023. At that time, we heard about a big project to commemorate the 10th anniversary of rareraw, and she offered us a chance to participate in the project.

—— That would be the design collaboration project “10 COLORS.”

rareraw
“10 COLORS” in celebration of rareraw’s 10th anniversary is a design collaboration project involving 10 renowned design studios and brands in Korea and abroad, expressing 10 unique personalities in steel and metal through a variety of perspectives. It makes for a great outcome to combine the know-how of rareraw of product making and the new, fresh design approach of 10 designers/brands.

Not only Korean design studios but also international design studios such as BIG GAME and FORM US WITH LOVE were approached to participate in the project. MOHEIM is the only Japanese company to participate in the project.

—— What was the reason(s) that you decided MOHEIM should join rareraw’s 10th anniversary collaboration “10 COLORS”?

rareraw
We thought MOHEIM’s minimal design direction and Rareraw’s metalic charm would blend well.

MOHEIM is a brand that beautifully designs everyday items in our daily lives. We think it has a special design characteristic with its unique minimal sense of beauty.

At first, we tried to request a comp;etely new design, but we changed our direction because we thought it would be more meaningful to show Moheim’s signature items in a new way.

Moreover, we thought it would give a new feeling if we made one of MOHEIM’s bestselling items from different materials.

Through this project with MOHEIM, we hope that the brand rareraw will become known in Japan and that his project will get a good response from consumers in Korea.

—— What was MOHEIM’s first proposal after the project started?

Shige
rareraw is a brand that fully draws out the potential of metal and its materiality to create sophisticated items with an expression that has never been seen before.

So when we decided to make SWING BIN “again” with metal, we first thought, why not try to make it with perforated metal?

I thought that by using perforated metal, which is steel but lighter in weight and has a lighter look, we could express a new SWING BIN that is different from the existing models.

We actually had a prototype made with perforated metal. But unfortunately, when we tried to make a perfectly circular cylinder, we could not achieve the required accuracy. So, we decided that it was not feasible.

Continued to “rareraw x MOHEIM – SWING BIN special collaboration model – Part2”