« Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories Now on PSP | Main | Buff Monster »

November 07, 2005

Muji Total Lifestyle

We found this interesting Guardian newspaper article on Muji and its new foray into taking the company's product line one giant step farther by building houses in Japan. The story by Fiona Rattray for the Guardian's recent Observer Design Special does a good job of profiling the company and explaining its business and design philosophy.

First, some disclosure. We are admitted Muji freaks. We became infected with Muji-love in the early 1990's while in the U.K. and a visit to the Japanese chain's London branch in the West End. We developed our addiction and a full-blown case of hopeless devotion to all things Muji years later while in Japan.

Muji, in case you don't know, is the iconic Japanese designer and brand retailer of stationary, household goods, clothes, furniture, CD cases -- almost anything you can imagine for your home or office -- that are utterly devoid of unnecesary decorative flourishes.

Famous for being a brand based on the concept of no-brand, Muji products are often made of translucent plastics, polished stainless steel and brown paper and they come almost exclusively in white, gray or brown.

Muji is about good -- no, first-rate -- design and minimalist style in a way that seems the quintessence of contemporary Japanese aesthetics. Though as Rattray's article points out, one look around the landscape of Tokyo would suggest the Muji style is not so much the essence of Japan as much as a reaction to the nation's cluttered, garish, neon-filled urban environments.

Now Muji is running nature camps and building homes and planning further overseas expansion (a store -- FINALLY -- in New York City in 2006!). Muji, we heart ya'!

Essential Links

Design Special: Your Life in Their Hands [The Guardian, UK]
Muji Online UK
Muji Japan

Posted by Ray Chan at November 7, 2005 12:33 AM