ZANE ARTS, a design concept integrating functionality and art, creates outdoor products that allow nature and humans to live in harmony.
Established in 2018, the head office is located in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan, close to the Hida Mountains, also known as the "Northern Alps."
In 2019, four new products were first unveiled - ZEKU-M, GIGI-1, ROGA-4, and GEU. Using earth tones, combined with simple lines and delicate tailoring, their artistic appearance generated considerable discussion even before their official launch.
[About the Brand Founder]
Mr. Takashi Kosugi, the founder of ZANE ARTS, is also the brand designer and负责人. He takes the Japanese Zen proverb "座 (ZA) して半畳、寝 (NE) て一畳" (za shite hanjō, ne te ichijō) as his motto. Literally, this means "half a tatami mat when sitting, one tatami mat when sleeping," illustrating that the space truly needed for human life is at most one tatami mat. The deeper meaning is that we should understand our own worth and not excessively pursue more than what we truly need.
In his past career, Mr. Kosugi accumulated extensive experience in the development and manufacturing of outdoor equipment. Like many outdoor enthusiasts, he enjoys hiking, camping, fishing, and other nature-related recreational activities. He believes that through these outdoor experiences, one can understand the appropriate distance and balance between nature and humans, which is the value of outdoor activities.
[Brand Naming and LOGO Design]
"We don't actually need much."
Those with experience in overnight mountain climbing trips can likely appreciate the meaning of this statement. When preparing for a trip and packing bags, the selection criteria for equipment are often based on "whether it is essential," which perfectly aligns with the original meaning of "座して半畳、寝て一畳." ZANE ARTS hopes to use this principle as an ideal for product research, development, and manufacturing, and strives to implement it. Through a subtractive approach to creation, they avoid excessive pursuit of convenience, designing products that are just right. Therefore, both the brand naming and LOGO design are inspired by the motto of the brand founder, Mr. Takashi Kosugi, with the aspiration that every step in the company's operations and product development will maintain humility and prudence.
"ZANE" comes from the Japanese "座" (za) and "寝" (ne). The official standard pronunciation of ZANE is "zein". The LOGO is composed of the "Z" and "N" from ZANE. The "Z" represents a person sitting (座して半畳, sitting on half a tatami mat), and the "N" represents a person lying down sleeping (寝て一畳, lying on one tatami mat). If you rotate the Z (person sitting) 90 degrees clockwise, it becomes an N (person lying down sleeping).
Applying minimalist art to outdoor life, "ZANE ARTS" also represents "Zen and Art."
[Product Design Philosophy]
When engaging in outdoor activities, the functionality of equipment is very important. However, if one focuses solely on improving functionality, adjustments often need to be made in the final product stage, because such designs do not necessarily bring aesthetic appeal. Of course, for outdoor activities in harsh environments, pursuing functionality is essential. But for more casual camping or outdoor photography, where the purpose is to appreciate the beauty of nature, is it possible for the equipment used to have both "functionality" and "aesthetics"? Making designs that pursue functionality while retaining beauty is a conflicting and difficult task, but ZANE ARTS has achieved it.
Upholding the philosophy of "integrating function and art," the brand aims to create highly artistic, simple, and lightweight products. They have chosen sandstone, a color that beautifully complements nature, so that when the equipment is used, it seamlessly blends into the landscape, becoming part of the beautiful scenery.
When establishing ZANE ARTS, Mr. Kosugi stated that this would be a brand "dedicated to meticulously designing and developing products with significant time and effort to achieve an artistic level." He also hopes that this brand will support people who engage in outdoor activities, thereby enabling more people to appreciate the beauty of nature.
ZANE ARTS,
is not just a provider of outdoor equipment, but also a bridge "that allows users to comfortably coexist and interact with nature." We hope that more people can escape the hustle and bustle of the city and step into the tranquil and beautiful outdoor world with ZANE ARTS.
