London-based designer Rentaro Nishimura graduated from the Architectural Association, School of Architecture in 2004. After working in architectural practices, he shifted his interest to smaller scale projects such as furniture, product design and fashion. His work has won numerous awards and has been showcased in prestigious shops and galleries all over the world, including the Pompidou Centre in Paris and the Saatchi Gallery in London.
We sent a collection of images to Rentaro showing him the process of basket weaving. Rentaro was inspired by the elaborative process of basket making and the skills of mango club and designed CONE, a stool within a stool, where basket making becomes structural, practical, modern and a means of fighting poverty. At the same time Rentaro has been an inspiration to the club and the wider community, encouraging them to diversify from traditional basket making, so that they can reach new markets.
