enzo mari loves muji ( japanese for 'no logo') ......................................................................................................................................................................
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enzo mari loves muji ( japanese for 'no logo') --- if you want something that doesn't disturb your aesthetic. at muji you can always find things that don't clash. minimalism and anonymity are the two elements which make up the essential nature of the muji. muji retains a panel of design consultants but, in keeping with its low-key nature, doesn't flaunt their names. the aim of offering quality products but without branding, even though many of the designers behind the products are famous names – here are the latest furniture items designed by enzo mari. --- 'muji's product development guiding principle is flexibility allowing consumers to select and purchase what they need and want, without waste and without forcing them to buy components with no relevance to their lives. this philosophy has important secondary benefits: reduced cost, earth-friendliness, the use of unexpected materials, minimal processing, and efficient packages. the results are products which people really do need, and that can easily be personalized and upgraded - through component and module purchases - as they wish. muji carefully protects items for sale with bagging and containers appropriate to their purpose. by using the same clear cellophane bag material to wrap pillows, shirts, cookies, breakfast cereal, etc., mujiI makes certain that consumers see exactly what they are getting, and that they don't pay for extra design or expensive packaging. likewise, labels are uniform and list contents - and nothing more. in the best of muji worlds, package and label are the same thing: a narrow kraft paper band. we suggest a lifestyle to consumers, and we provide almost all of the products for basic living. no other retailer does that.' says masaaki kanai, managing director of the ryohin keikaku co., ltd. group. --- on muji muji was initially launched as a private brand by the seiyu Ltd. the company first traded in the over-the-counter market, a few years later it made it to the second section of the tokyo stock exchange. the first muji store opened in 1983 at aoyama district of tokyo, an area at the forefront of new trends in fashion. muji has stores throughout japan, the united kingdom and in france, with plans to improve and open more. the group is aiming to increase the number of muji stores throughout europe to 50 in the future.--- --- ------- monthly designboom newsletter ------- ------- ? comments and contact us ? -------	enzo mari © designboom chairs by enzo mari for muji chairs by enzo mari for muji detail of the table, design by enzo mari for muji sketches by enzo mari masaaki kanai, managing director of the group © designbom