Creators shop Loop, a space for encouraging initiation, gives young creators a place to test out their ambitious proposals for creative fields like design, fashion and the industrial arts and supports their activities.
Named “Loop” to indicate the circular connection in feedback between creator and user, it was designed as a marketing-based shop that gives creators who plan to establish themselves in the Nagoya area the opportunity to sell their products, find out about users’ needs and plug this response back into product development. Tenants are chosen by public offering every six months and have between six months and two years to work on display from the ground up, sell their products, hold events and publicize their activities. Loop opened in November 2011 as a space to support creators’ businesses in Nagoya. International Design Center NAGOYA handles project management, with the aim of promoting creative industry.

The first session ended on May 13, 2012; two new participants joined for the second session; and in November 2012, an additional three participants joined for the third session. Of the new tenants, creators in genres new to the space (jewelry, ceramics and woodworking) formed the core, and joined continuing tenants in holding workshops and other frequent events and increasing sales. In addition, in March 2013, a limited-time Loop shop opened in LACHIC. As part of the 8th anniversary project, a one-month booth was set up where six creators from the first to third sessions sold their products and received warm praise from visitors.

creators shop Loop（Second and Third Session）
Second session: Fri., May 18 2012 – Sun., November 18 2012
Third session: Fri., November 23 2012 – Sun., May 12 2013
Period for limited-time shop in LACHIC: Fri., March 1 2013 – Sun.,March 31 2013
Primary Project Constituent: City of Nagoya
Planning and management: International Design Center NAGOYA, Inc.
Cooperation: Gain, LACHIC, Secretariat of Creators Market, Council of Chubu Design Organizations, NPO Made in Japan Project

Tenants（Second and Third Session）

IKEYAN★
Ikeyan is a group of young potters, formed around the ceramicist Ryota Aoki from Mino, in Gifu Prefecture with the aim of improving the ceramics industry. Ikeyan both introduces its young artists and offers ceramic pieces that allow for an intimate experience of the charm of pottery. (Representative: Ryota Aoki/2nd & 3rd session)
IKEYAN★

daladala
This tenant sells original handmade pieces made using the natural materials of Mongolia and Kenya. Building from the experience of a group of young international exchange participants, daladala sustains local natural features and traditional materials while adding spice to its ideas and solutions. (Representatives: Hitomi Saya・Tatsunori Saya/3rd session)
daladala

The Chairs
This is an intentional network of professional makers. Through the making of chairs, creators from a variety of different genres co-own production and its surrounding creative environment, thus disseminating a manufacturing message from Nagoya. (Representative: Kota Suzuki/3rd session)
The Chairs

Nagoya Yomeiri Dogu
Local traditional arts live on in the new-styled furniture and implements for modern life offered by Nagoya Yomeiri Dogu. Made of exclusively authentic materials, the wooden pails, ceramics, lamps and Paulownia chests, whose character deepens with use, sport delightful designs born of refined techniques. (Representative: Takeyuki Kamiyama/2nd session)
Nagoya Yomeiri Dogu

bonanza made in Nagoya
This shop sells handmade shoes and leather bags substantiated by established techniques. Customers appreciate the individual coloring of these carefully made-to-order shoes and other leather products, the manufacturing techniques of which descend from those of Nagoya’s remaining craftspeople. (Representative: Noriko Inagaki/2nd session)
bonanza made in Nagoya

marimomen
This is a creative duet that is developing products employing Nagoya’s traditional craft known as Arimatsu Narumi tie-dyeing with a new sensibility. The pair presents new tie-dyed pieces with innovative cute pop designs, including vibrantly colored jikatabi [workman’s tabi footwear] made with itajime shibori [a fold-clamp-dye process]. (Representatives: Yuu Itou・Mari Muraguchi/2nd & 3rd session)
marimomen

Mei-butsu
These are Nagoya souvenirs conceived by designers. These items, whose planning concept was “souvenir objects accompanied by souvenir stories”, combine episodes conveying the charm of Nagoya, resulting in a collection of items with an unexpected hint of humor.(Representative: Takashi Honda/2nd & 3rd session)
Mei-butsu

uni-t Design
This is a brand of unique (uni) pieces of jewelry wrought into a “unit” born of ever-changing appearance. Utilizing techniques learned through work in a high-quality jewelry brand combining a scientific sensibility and strong design, the artist dispatches pieces with an individualistic sensibility and great originality. (Representative: Takafumi Inuzuka/2nd session)
uni-t Design

wacstyle
This is a woodworking studio producing made-to-order furniture developed under the concept “wood・across・comfortable: connecting wood and comfort”. It offers an inimitable lifestyle through carefully handmade original furniture and objects soothing to handle and use. (Representative: Wataru Nishio/3rd session)
wacstyle