Hobonichi a6 cover 2015 spring only, Octagonal, NWT

Every year, our lineup includes covers in the popular “World Folk Patterns” series, which features motifs from all over the world. This year’s special Spring design comes to us from Masako Kusakabe of the Taku Satoh Design Office, a firm headed by the designer of the Hobonichi Techo.

The design is based on the traditional French octagonal plates that were especially popular with 19th century nobility. Such antique plates today are incredibly rare and very valuable. For the cover, the patterns of these treasures have been reimagined into a stylish design on a blue-gray background. The cover has a cotton material specially painted in a way that retains the feel of watercolor paintings, including the blurs and soft textures that are characteristic of watercolor.

“It’s not a design that immediately evokes the image of France, but basing the motif on something that was made for daily use in France seemed appropriate, considering the cover will be with its user every day,” says Kusakabe.

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