Unfolding the Art of Origami in Leather: Tsutsumu by Hirotaka Satoh

Revolutionizing Business Card Holders with Japanese Tradition and Italian Leather

Hirotaka Satoh's inspiration for the Tsutsumu Card Case is deeply rooted in the Japanese custom of carefully wrapping valued items. Drawing parallels from practices such as "furoshiki" (wrapping objects in a large piece of cloth), "noshibukuro" (special envelopes used for gifting money), and "fukusa" (a square piece of cloth for wrapping the noshibukuro), Satoh designed Tsutsumu to gently cradle valuable business cards. The card case is made by meticulously folding a piece of high-quality leather, akin to origami, without using any fastening material.

What sets Tsutsumu apart from other card cases in the market is its unique design that does not use stitches or hardware. Despite being made from thick leather, Tsutsumu maintains a compact size and a symmetrical, extremely simple design. The absence of stitches and hardware posed a challenge in shaping the leather, but Satoh overcame this by finding the perfect material - Italian Vachetta Leather. This leather, known for its soft texture that improves with age, lends Tsutsumu an elegant look suitable for business situations.

The card case is designed for smooth operation. A semicircular cutout under the cover allows users to quickly remove their card from the case without looking down. The design, which wraps the business card with three flaps, the top one acting as a cover, ensures stress-free opening and closing due to the absence of hardware.

The Tsutsumu Card Case is not only a design marvel but also a testament to sustainable practices. The leather used for Tsutsumu is vegetable-tanned, a process that is eco-friendly and does not contain any toxic substances harmful to humans. Furthermore, the raw hides used are by-products of the food industry, ensuring no animal is killed for its skin.

Since its design in 2016, Tsutsumu has received several accolades, including the OMOTENASHI selection in Japan (2017), Asia Design Prize in Korea (2018), IDEA (International Design Excellence Award) in the USA (2018), iF Design Award in Germany (2019), and the prestigious Silver A' Fashion and Travel Accessories Design Award in 2019. The latter is awarded to designs that demonstrate outstanding expertise, innovation, and introduce positive feelings, amazement, and wonder.

In conclusion, Hirotaka Satoh's Tsutsumu Card Case is a testament to the power of simplicity, tradition, and craftsmanship. It is a palm-sized masterpiece that combines Japanese tradition, Italian craftsmanship, and sustainable practices to redefine the humble business card holder.