KOPINE STORY

 

 

CHIANG MAI

Rich in traditions, nature, and artisanal know-how, Chiang Mai was the ideal place for us to settle 20 years ago. This large city in northern Thailand remains a stronghold of traditional craftsmanship that is disappearing elsewhere...

Handmade paper, natural dyeing, pottery, bronze casting, weaving, carpentry, knife making, cement shaping, and wood carving still thrive here.

The slower pace of life is part of its charm. Unlike many coastal cities in Thailand, Chiang Mai has, so far, avoided the extremes of mass tourism.

 

NON-VIOLENCE

Living in the heart of a culture steeped in respect and non-violence has naturally inspired us to create original designs for a kinder world.

Our decision to develop an alternative to animal leather comes directly from this approach: offering an alternative to global animal overexploitation.

Our inspirations are diverse, ranging from Polynesian traditions to the aesthetics of medieval France and prehistoric cave paintings...

Keen to protect the environment, we favor renewable materials and low-impact processes.

 

BARK LEATHER

Our bark fiber leather is entirely handmade through a multi-step process:

It all starts with the paper mulberry (Broussonetia Papyrifera), a species traditionally used in Asia for Washi paper in Japan and in Oceania for making Tapa.

Its long, strong bark fibers are ideal for our needs.

We process these fibers by hand to create sheets, much like traditional paper-making.

Once dried, these sheets are assembled into a “sandwich” using natural latex glue, which is then pressed with a roller over molds to emboss and texture it.

Finally, it is dried in the sun when available.

 

PATINAS

Creating patinas involves various techniques:

The bark leather can be dyed at different stages to produce unique effects.

We often use acrylic paints to highlight surface patterns, followed by careful hand waxing to achieve the signature finish.

We primarily work with mineral waxes, subtly tinted with iron oxide pigments to achieve our patinas.

Each product is decorated individually, ensuring that no two pieces are alike.

 

SHAPING

Finally, the bark leather is cut, shaped, and assembled into original, durable creations.