Founded in Tokyo little over a decade ago, cycling gear brand narifuri has garnered a cut following both home and abroad with well-designed garments, accessories and bags. Anticipating the versatile lifestyle of its target urban demographic, the brand also cleverly includes a compatible range of garments with a distinct fashion signature. Next to various stockists nationwide, narifuri has longtime managed a flagship store in Tokyo‘s Sendagaya neighbourhood – mind you, it rents out bikes to explore wider swathes of the city – and as of late, a new second outpost in the heart of Kyoto, Japan‘s revered cultural capital. The company secured a traditional shop alongside Fuyacho dori, and tapped Osaka-based architecture practice dot architects to create a fitting interior design. While many of the building’s original details have been retained, the new setting also sees significant modern interventions that lend a distinct contemporary touch, most notably perspex embedded in the upper floor that allow in additional daylight. The ground floor serves as retail space and presents narifuri‘s full range of merchandise, but also features a separate section near the entrance where foldable bikes can be rented to visitors who wish to explore the city on wheels. The second floor is designated as event and exhibition space, and aims to connect various communities with narifuri‘s carefully nurtured cycling culture.
narifuri
522 Masuya-cho, Shijo dori, Fuya-cho (Central Kyoto)
Kyoto 604-8053
Telephone: +81 75 2231114
Mon-Tue 12-8
Thu-Sun 12-8
Publishers Note
Just to be clear – superfuture® is a design blog and not a political commentator. No surprise there. The scope of our content has always been global and borderless, however that can often mean covering projects in countries where we will not agree with the politics or actions of those countries. In a world that’s as screwed up as ever right now, the focus of our support is to those designers, architects and other creatives who aim to make the world a more liveable one – as opposed to people that try their hardest to destroy it. So if a project hits our desk and we like it based on its design credentials, we may choose to publish regardless of its location or creators nationality. superfuture® has always been inclusive and hopes for all current wars, aggression, violence, hate and extremism to end.
