Design buffs should head to D&Department Osaka, a design-led space in Horie district, close to the famous Orange Street. Designer Kenmei Nagaoka launched the project D&Department as a means of creating, sharing and appreciating enduring designs, and is especially celebratory of timeless Japanese designs and traditions. You can find that appreciation in a wide range of things, whether they be ceramic bowls or specialty foods, furniture, clothes or kitchenware.
The D&Department Osaka carries curated products that have a timeless appeal. The project procures artisanal products from all over Japan such as Lifestock blankets made from wool from the Gifu prefecture and Karimoku furniture made from sustainably-sourced wood.
The three storey-building has two shopping floors. The ground floor showcases lifestyle and household products, including kitchenware and clothes. You'll find an assortment of new and used goods in-store, so if you're a fan of recycling, this is a good place to check out. The clothes line 'Rewear' is made of secondhand pieces, dyed in fresh new colours and ready with a new lease on life. For the blue that the Japanese call 'Hanada', they applied traditional indigo dying techniques to achieve this sublime shade.
The second floor houses a wide selection of furniture, some of it pre-loved and delightful in their retro appeal. A cafe sits on the top floor of the building, where you can sit and read design books while enjoying a lunch special of linguine with homemade bacon and white bean ragout or a hamburger steak set. They also serve a variety of Japanese craft beer and wine.
The project is also well-known for the publication of the travel magazine d design travel. Each issue of the travel guide introduces a Japanese prefecture, emphasizing its design hotspots, products and producers. The editorial team highlights hidden local gems that they love and the appreciation shows. It's a good guide for travellers who love design and want a more in-depth knowledge of Japan that is not typical of the sightseeing guides.
There are D&Department stores in all the main cities in Japan, so you wouldn't have to venture far to have your design hunger sated.
