Wabi-Sa[Banya] — Live-Client Project 2 (RPR)
- Nov 22, 2023
- 6 min read
Updated: Nov 28, 2023
A research and development project for Bath House Malaysia & BANYA
Both projects (IPP2 & Live-Client 2) were inspired from a casual conversation with Shoemaker Auntie Uncle (@绅士皮鞋 The Leather Shoe) during last semester break, where I visit my friend’s studio. |
“…keep improving in different aspects to sustain yourself in the industry. Nothing is perfect; even the leather we use has flaws and imperfections. That's a part of being human and experiencing life. We learn from a young age to old." — (@绅士皮鞋 The Leather Shoe) Hence, the core idea for project was born — Embrace the imperfect aspects of life and find joy and excitement in the mundane.
This core idea reminds me of the album concept of The Clot (瓦合) by No Party for Cao Dong (草東沒有派對), an indie rock band from Taiwan. The word "瓦" can mean as tiles or rubble; the word "合" can mean as combine or fit together.
But the idea of the album concept was more leaning towards satirical narrative, as their English title name as The Clot. It means a disorderly and heterogeneous crowd gathered hastily.
However, the combination of the word "瓦合“ comes from the sayings of "慕贤而容众，毁方而瓦合" from The Book of Rites by Confucius, which mean to admire the virtuous and accommodate the masses, but do not forsake you own integrity to conform like square tiles fitting together.
OVERVIEW
Bath House Malaysia, @bathhousemy, founded by Loy Yew Kienn and Ong Su Chen. A bath house dedicated for shoe. Offering services such as cleaning, polishing, repairing, and customizing. Solving customer problems with intuitive ideas along with their craftsmanship skills, breaking the norm of usual repairing and restoration; BANYA, @banyaaynab, a sub-branding from Bath House Malaysia that is more oriented into showcasing their experimentation in leather shoemaking. "Nothing serious, we just like making shoes"
This project primarily involves the research and development (R&D) of the client’s business. My role in this project was that of a designer cum craftsman. Create a comprehensive concept that translates the core idea of the project: embracing the imperfect aspects of life and finding joy and excitement in the mundane. To convey this message, I applied my skills, guided by the knowledge shared by the client, to craft usable products using leather sheets with imperfections. The production process will be documented and transformed into a documentary series, highlighting the small moments of joy and excitement within the mundane process and emphasizing the value of imperfections in the handcrafted items.
BRIEF
Many large industries engaged in leather goods production or crafts typically utilize the perfect areas of dyed and tanned leather, discarding the remaining imperfect parts during production. According to a Japanese aesthetic and philosophical concept, Wabi-sabi, it embraces the beauty of imperfection, transience, and the natural world. It’s a worldview that finds value in rustic, weathered, and imperfect aspects of life and objects. Wabi-sabi is frequently associated with traditional Japanese tea ceremonies, where the imperfect and simple beauty of tea utensils and the setting play significant roles.
In this project, in collaboration with Bath House Malaysia and BANYA, we apply the principles of Wabi-sabi in leather crafts production. Hence, the project is named Wabi-Sa[Banya], celebrating the beauty of imperfection crafted in Banya, Bath House.
OBJECTIVES
Shows the beauty of imperfection
Experiment and experience crafting usable leather products along with client’s guidance
Focus on the original tanned leather imperfections to produce crafts that brings a specific meaning to it
Enjoy the whole process of the production
Produce prototypes as a references to client's business
TARGET AUDIENCE
Gen Z and Millennials
Fashion or leather crafts enthusiasts
Appreciate art crafts and craftsmanship
Minimal and simplistic lifestyle
DELIVERABLES
Shoe (Upper & Insole)
Key Holder
Pouch
Tote Bag
Process Video (Documentary Series)
SKETCHES
TIMELINE
The following is the scheduled timeline for the project:
Date | Action Plan |
11th Sep | Meeting (Project Proposing) |
18th Sep | Resource Purchasing + Deliverables Item Update (if applicable) |
3 - 10 Oct | Items Production |
11 -13 Oct | Details Warping Up |
15 - 20 Oct | Video Editing + Posters Production |
21 - 23 Oct | Design Finalize |
However, during the progression of the project, there were times when either I or the client couldn't meet due to schedule mismatches or other urgent matters to attend to. The following is the actual timeline of the project:
Date | Action Plan |
11th Sep | Meeting (Project Proposing) |
18th Sep | Resource Purchasing + Deliverables Item Update (if applicable) |
6 Oct | Shoe Crafting + Recording |
18 Oct | Shoe Crafting + Recording |
19 Oct | Key Holder & Pouch Crafting + Recording |
20 Oct | Shoe, Key Holder, Pouch & Tote Bag Crafting + Recording |
24 Oct | Tote Bag Crafting + Recording |
25 Oct | Tote Bag Crafting + Recording |
26 Oct | Key Holder & Tote Bag Crafting + Recording |
31 Oct | Details Warping Up & Photoshoot |
1 - 12 Nov | Video Editing + Posters Production |
RESEARCH
Wabi-Sabi
“Put simply, wabi sabi gives you permission to be yourself. It encourages you to do your best but not make yourself ill in pursuit of an unattainable goal of perfection. It gently motions you to relax, slow down and enjoy your life. And it shows you that beauty can be found in the most unlikely of places, making every day a doorway to delight.” ― Beth Kempton, Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life
Perfectionist
“Understanding the difference between healthy striving and perfectionism is critical to laying down the shield and picking up your life. Research shows that perfectionism hampers success. In fact, it's often the path to depression, anxiety, addiction, and life paralysis.”
― Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection
“Perfectionism is a self destructive and addictive belief system that fuels this primary thought: If I look perfect, and do everything perfectly, I can avoid or minimize the painful feelings of shame, judgment, and blame.”
― Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection
Fast Fashion
Fast fashion can be defined as cheap, trendy clothing that samples ideas from the catwalk or celebrity culture and turns them into garments at breakneck speed to meet consumer demand. The idea is to get the newest styles on the market as fast as possible, so shoppers can snap them up while they are still at the height of their popularity and then, sadly, discard them after a few wears. It plays into the idea that outfit repeating is a fashion faux pas and that if you want to stay relevant, you have to sport the latest looks as they happen. It forms a key part of the toxic system of overproduction and consumption that has made fashion one of the world’s largest polluters. (Solene, 2023)
ADDITIONAL RESEARCH LIST
Wabi-sabi
Human Imperfection Parts
Human Skin related Disease
Song or Albums with Imperfection Theme
Leather Tanning
Leather Imperfection
Leather Crafts
Documentary Video Sequence and Arrangement
INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION
This is the first ever hands-on experience on crafting leather items, there are a lot of tools and accessories that are made for leather crafts. I found that out while we purchasing the leather at Malayan Leather Craft, KL. There are four types of leather and two tanning method which I covered in the documentary video. However, selection of purchasing the leather can also categorized as upper body part, lower body part, belly or shoulder. The part of the leather depends on the item that a craftsmen wanted to craft. The leather I bought for the project was full body goat leather, full grain and veg tanned.
During the crafting process, some measurements differed from my original plans. This is because engaging in practical work allows for the observation and understanding of previously unseen details or dimensions. There are some considerations need to be aware of, including the selection of stitching methods, optimizing measurements to utilize entire leather sheets, and understanding the characteristics of the materials.
Overall, the process was fun mostly because of they are passionate and enthusiastic in this field and so does their working environment in the studio, we do chit-chat for little things and often laugh from jokes. The client also brought me to a cafe shop around Seksyen 52 to have a morning coffee to start the day and having lunch or dinner together.
However, the sense of accomplishment and achievement in this project was stronger than the Independent Project 2, as it has a physical object that it fully functional for daily use, so right after I've done crafting those item. I use it frequently since then as a stress test. However, there are some part of it will still need to iterate, based on the results of the stress test.
All the items, except for the shoe, were made within 8 days. Sometimes, my client and I couldn’t meet due to schedule mismatches. (mostly because of I need take care of the Graduation Showcase stuffs) and I needed to complete it as soon as possible. However, it's a time-consuming project that involves a significant amount of hand-stitching.
Throughout the project, I developed a profound appreciation for embracing imperfections. I love the end product that I've created, it doesn't looks luxury but it looks expensive and unique in a way (according to my friends) because of the texture, stain or mark on the leather craft which given a specific meaning and value for it. I also preserved the original tanned colours of the leather while only applying some leather lotion. I am seriously considering creating another piece in the near future. This project also provided the client with insights into the possibilities we can explore.
FINAL OUTCOME
MESSAGE OF THE PROJECT
All things in life, including ourselves, exist in an imperfect state of flux. Therefore, strive not for perfection but for excellence. Through acceptance of imperfections, we find freedom; through acceptance, we find growth. Take a moment to slow down, feel the moment, and appreciate the beauty in all things, especially the profound beauty that hides beneath the surface of what seems to be broken. Acceptance is contentment and contentment is acceptance. Perfection is a subjective concept that evolves with time. What we once considered perfect may no longer hold that status, but imperfections often carry value and persist as we strive for future perfection.
References
Altair, P. (2015, April 22). WABI SABI & DESIGN. Wabi-sabi is a Japanese world view that… | by Patrick Altair. Medium. Retrieved September 3, 2023, from https://medium.com/@patrickaltair/wabi-sabi-design-9f768c8597e1
Brown, B. (2010). The Gifts of Imperfection. Hazelden Publishing.
CP Slippers. (n.d.). 4 Basic Leather Qualities, An Overview Guide to Leather Grades. CP Slippers. Retrieved September 3, 2023, from https://www.cpslippers.com/blogs/journal/4-basic-leather-qualities
Itani, O. (2021, April 23). 5 Teachings From The Japanese Wabi-Sabi Philosophy That Can Drastically Improve Your Life — OMAR ITANI. OMAR ITANI. Retrieved September 3, 2023, from https://www.omaritani.com/blog/wabi-sabi-philosophy-teachings
Kempton, B. (2018). Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life. Little, Brown Book Group.
Miles, T. (n.d.). "What's on my leather?" Let's talk about Natural Markings! The Leather Guy. Retrieved September 3, 2023, from https://theleatherguy.org/blogs/leather-101/whats-on-my-leather-lets-talk-about-natural-markings
Pogosyan, M. (2017, January 2). The Beauty of Imperfection. Psychology Today. Retrieved September 3, 2023, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/between-cultures/201701/the-beauty-imperfection Solene, R. (2023, August 7). What Is Fast Fashion and Why Is It So Bad? Good On You. Retrieved September 3, 2023, from https://goodonyou.eco/what-is-fast-fashion/
Comments