Japan – Fashion and food concept store Salon adam et ropé has harvested its first crop of rice in collaboration with growers in Gunma prefecture.
In early 2015, Salon staff joined local farmers in Kawaba as they rolled up their sleeves to plant the first seedlings of their new rice brand.
The brand’s version of Yuki Hotaka, the seasonal Koshihikari rice grown in Kawaba, will be sold at the premium price of ¥1,400 (£7.50, €10.50, $11.60) per kilogram together with an Iga-ware donabe, the predecessor to the electric rice cooker.
‘For this project, Salon has focused on rice to promote the culture and enjoyment of seasonal produce through fashion,’ the brand said in a statement.
Artisanal collections, from tableware to chopsticks and jewellery, are planned along with in-store workshops and culinary collaborations that will add a contemporary spin on the everyday staple.
Brands are going to great lengths to connect themselves and their consumers with the provenance of their products, closing the loop ever tighter. Find out more about this Radical Transparency here.