LOOKING GOOD
In store
Compiled by Mayumi Sato
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| Beautiful tenugui from Kamawanu |
Kamawanu
Behind a tiny
rock garden and a noren-covered sliding door is this Japonesque shop selling Edo-inspired
and modern tenugui (hand towels). These functional, 100-percent cotton towels are all
hand-dyed--so watch out for running colors--and serve as bandanas, picnic mats or
traditional towels. Aside from those picturesque tenugui (90x33cm, JY600-JY2500) furoshiki
(wrapping cloth) JY1200-JY3800, handkerchiefs and stuff sacks are available. After you
pick up a tenugui, take a break at the onigiri cafE Den Den, in the back. Den Den
onigiri (JY160) and cheese onigiri (JY180) are popular items on the menu.
23-1 Sarugakucho, Shibuya-ku: 3780-0182
Orthodoxee
Why buy pretentious name-brand bags, when you can design your own? Orthodoxee is a
leather-tailor shop that makes everything but apparel and shoes. Samples of various bags,
wallets and pen cases are provided to make ordering easier, but you can have any of the
items completely custom-made. Clarify the usage, and an in-house specialist will
illustrate your image and give you advice. Presenting your own sample, picture or
illustration also helps. Orthodoxee provides seven colors of tanned
cowhide that will gain luster over years. Other types of leather such as calfskin, lizard
and seal are also on offer. Time and the cost, of course, depend on the size and the
complexity of each item. Production normally takes 1-2 months, and prices range from
JY60,000-JY90,000 for women' items and JY80,000-JY150,000 for men's. The Shimokitazawa
shop also holds beginners workshops three times a week, which teach you to stitch up your
own leather goods. Other leather stores may have a sample-order system, but this brand is
presumably the only one that lets you design a briefcase from scratch. Shimokitaza
shop: 2-1-10 Kitazawa, Setagaya-ku; 3414-4463
Daikanyama shop: 18-4 Daikanyama-cho, Shibuya-ku; 3780-5876
Closed on Mon. www.orthodoxee.com
Do-Re-Mi
Move someone with a music box, like the many of men in the know who drive up Do-Re-Mi's
sales every Christmas Eve and White Day. TV-drama crews have recently ordered a
dancing-couple music box for a romantic scene. Do-Re-Mi houses more than
1000 music boxes and dolls, from a tiny manual box (JY600) to a Swiss Reuge Music's box
(JY650,000). From classical tunes to film soundtracks to beloved, local ballads to J-pop
numbers, they've got a melody to suit everyone's taste. You can create your own music box
that plays 12-18 seconds of a song of your choice (JY32,000 plus the box fee), just bring
a tape or CD. If you have time, compare the sounds of boxes with regular 18-teeth, 30, 36
or more. The music box's serene sounds are made from the vibration of spinning drum's pins
that brush a comb's teeth. The larger the number of teeth the wider the scale and more
sophisticated the tune.
2F Oki Bldg., 2-11-20 Jiyugaoka, Meguro-ku; 3724-9320; Closed on Wed and the 1st
and 3rd Tues of the month
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