TIMES

Brands That Stand Out Through IP Registration and Technical Skill — A Different Kind of Appeal From Existing Products
 

At the PLUG IN October show, booths featuring patented or design-registered products stood out. With their design strengthened and their technical craftsmanship setting them apart, these were products that "exist, yet don't quite exist elsewhere" — developments that solved problems with existing products.

Representative brands included the accessory and jewelry brands "Reale," "KITAMURA," and "Access Room," the socks brand "Nishigaki Socks," and the leather goods brand "KUGIRI."

Reale developed a patented joint for pearl necklaces. Its square shape with a solid-stone fitting is easy to put on and take off, and its clean design blends naturally with the pearls. Because the joint is easy to attach when maintaining the string that holds the pearls, it also allows a necklace and bracelet to be linked together, or strands of different lengths to be layered — expanding the occasions pearls can be worn beyond formal events into everyday accessories, and raising hopes for a revival of the roughly 20 million strands of pearls said to be sitting unused in drawers across Japan.

KITAMURA unveiled "Amirene," a clasp part used on outerwear such as stoles, cardigans, long cardigans, and boleros, or on the obi accents of a yukata. With a built-in silicone element and a specially cut tip, it doesn't damage fabric. Available in silver, gold, and black, designs that pair the clasp with tassels and a haori cord turn the clasp itself into a styling accent.

Access Room obtained a design patent for its gemstone prong setting. It resolves common prong-setting issues — "the prong catches on fabric" and "the setting feels disconnected from the stone, undermining the look" — letting the beauty of the gem stand out. The company is launching a new brand, "SOU-SHA," starting with a series of square designs.

"Itadashirazu no Kutsushita" ("socks that never hurt your feet"), a socks brand created through a collaboration between Nishigaki Socks, Osaka Chaos — a group of 18 small parts manufacturers from Higashi-Osaka, the "town of manufacturing" — and sock specialty retailer Ecoleg, obtained a patent for socks designed for people who work on their feet all day. Built through this collaboration among small factories, the patented socks offer four times the cushioning of an ordinary pile sock and ten times the durability, resisting numbness and lasting longer. Coming in six colors with gift-conscious packaging, the brand aims to uncover new demand.

KUGIRI displayed a design-registered rolled pen case made of cowhide velour. With an interior pocket for holding the pen, it rolls into a compact cylinder secured with a rubber band. Beyond the texture of the velour used inside, the design also features an edge finish that prevents fraying and a wide rubber band across the top of the pocket to keep the pen from slipping out. Available in six colors at ¥7,500 (before tax).