TOKYO FABBERS has launched a community for people who create lifestyles through craftsmanship, centered around digital fabrication technology.
"FABBERS" refers to individuals who explore new ways of making things by making full use of personal digital fabrication environments such as 3D printers and laser cutters. The "FAB" in "FABBERS" embodies both the dual meanings of "fabrication," which is not bound by mass production or market logic, and "fabulous."
The community's base of operations is Shibuya, a hub for the information industry and a diverse cultural creation and dissemination center. In 2014, six fab spaces scattered around Shibuya and its surrounding areas will participate in the project, with the aim of forming a network of fab spaces. The participating fab spaces are: FabCafe, a café serving carefully selected coffee and handmade sweets, which also offers free internet and power outlets as a creative co-working space; FabLab Shibuya, which offers 3D printers and laser cutters to the public and also hosts workshops and events; Happy Printers, a creative space based on the concept of "the world's most exciting printing factory"; coromoza, a co-working space equipped with professional-grade sewing machines and apparel CAD software that anyone can use (all operated in Shibuya); IID Setagaya Monozukuri School, a complex renovated from a closed junior high school in Setagaya; and Makers' Base, Japan's largest members-only workshop (Meguro Ward). At the TOKYO FABBERS press conference held on July 28, representatives from the six fab spaces gathered at Shibuya Hikarie for a public workshop called "Building a Small House with Fab." Several shoppers stopped to look, captivated by the sight of the members building houses out of cardboard boxes piled up at the venue. Among them was a child whose eyes were captivated by the 3D printer, which he was seeing for the first time.
TOKYO FABBERS will carry out three main projects in the future. The first is to build a network that will make each FABBERS fab space more accessible and provide a concierge service. The second is to launch a portal site that will visualize the user network that supports individual creative activities, while also publicizing the activities of each base and FABBERS both domestically and internationally. And the last is to nurture FABBERS. To achieve these goals, TOKYO FABBERS will launch a variety of learning programs, starting with workshops to be held at FabCafe and Makers' Base on August 27th.
Regarding these efforts, Kotaro Iwaoka, director of Fab Cafe LLP Fab, said, "We hope to be able to provide a place that will become a hub for the community," and Junpei Matsuda, COO of Makers' Base, said, "By expanding this business, we hope to create many FABBERS with 300 regular customers."
