“Ame” means rain in Japanese. Hiroko’s Ame artwork is inspired by the mino, a centuries-old, traditional garment made of straw by Japanese craftspeople. With layers of the material falling like rain, the Mino paradoxically protects the body from getting soaked.

The Ame chair is a handwoven functional art piece that features a striking, shaggy back made of strands of fibers that drape to the floor. The rich heritage of the Japanese Mino served as the inspiration for this collaboration with multidisciplinary designer, Paolo Ferrari. The chair’s sculptural form is animated by Hiroko's expressive textile, handwoven with natural, deconstructed and recycled fibers.