Our mission

The origins of traditional Japanese crafts date back to approximately 10,000 years ago. Developed throughout Japan as tools for daily life, they evolved alongside human existence. As time passed, they became more user-friendly and established the concept of "You no Bi - useful beauty" or "KOGEI" through the Japanese people's unique sense of aesthetics and appreciation for nature.

 

However, due to changes in modern lifestyles, traditional crafts which have lost their practical uses are currently declining in Japan. The techniques that have been passed down for generations and generation are on the verge of distinction.

 

ILOLI aims to revitalize traditional crafts by fusing them with different cultures and fields, breathing new life into them and redefining their value. Through showcasing its products and their stories from France to the world, ILOLI hopes to increase recognition of traditional crafts and promote their diversity, with the ultimate goal of creating new value of existence and applications.

 

TOMOMI HERBIN MINAMI

Founder and CEO

Born and raised in northern Kyoto, she moved to Paris in 2003 after spending her twenties in the US and Japan.  After working decades in the technology field, Tomomi began to recognize the value of long-lasting quality of handmade creations passed down from generation to generation.

In 2016, she has started working in the traditional japanese craft market in France to develop sales channels. She has held positions such as a showroom manager of The Association for the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries related with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and has conducted sales activities to develop craft markets for japanese regional municipalities in Worldwide. Having witnessed the decline of the Japanese traditional crafts market, she launched the ILOLI PROJECT in 2023.

Participating Project:

  • "Precious Kyoto Project" organized by the Prefecture of Kyoto, Japan

  • Market research and tableware sampling for Bizen City

Partnership:

  • Commercial partnership with Maison Wa/SAS ENIS

 

Photo : Kasono Takamura 
https://www.kasonotakamura.com/