NUNO

Named for the word meaning "cloth" in Japanese, NUNO is one of Japan's most important textile companies. It was founded in 1984 by the legendary Junichi Arai and the company's current director, Reiko Sudo, and is recognized for weaving together tradition and cutting-edge technology. NUNO designers are inspired the past, present, and future, integrating unexpected elements, such as paper, feathers, or aluminum, with industrial methods, such as spatter-plating and chemical etching. All NUNO textiles--more than 2,500 have been created--are produced in Japan and are usually the handiwork of individual craftspeople. Each bolt of cloth has a story to tell.