'藤枝' Fujieda

Introducing the HIROSHIGE ‘藤枝’ Fujieda strap, from Utagawa Hiroshige’s Fujieda: Changing Porters and Horses, part of his celebrated The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō series. The scene captures the bustle of Fujieda, the 22nd station along the Tōkaidō road connecting Edo and Kyoto. Known as a busy relay point where travelers changed horses and porters before continuing their journey, Hiroshige portrays the station in the midst of its daily activity. Porters load and unload baggage, horses wait to be readied, while the lead traveler liaises with the station master, offering a vivid glimpse into the soul and vital force that kept Japan’s most important highway moving – the people. This human-centered composition is translated on the strap through a combination of engraved calf leather and hand-treated turquoise leather. Characters from Hiroshige’s artwork are engraved in black across supple white calf leather, transitioning into textured turquoise leather that is individually treated by hand. A translucent black ink is applied across the surface before the excess is allowed to wash away naturally, settling into the leather’s creases. This reveals irregular darkened traces, accentuating depth and texture that makes each piece subtly unique. Orange hand stitching and cross-stitching add a vivid finishing detail, creating contrast against the turquoise and monochrome artwork. Engraved onto carefully selected leather and finished by hand, each strap carries subtle variations that reflect the artisanal process behind it. Over time, the leather develops a natural patina, allowing the artwork and material to age gracefully together. Deliveries will start from November onwards.