Founded in 1969, furniture manufacturer Arflex Japan will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the release of its long-selling MARENCO sofa, first released in 1971, with a variety of special events from July to December. The first collaboration will feature Noritake Kinashi, a comedian, singer, and artist active in a variety of fields. This collaboration between Kinashi, known for being "approachable and admired by everyone," and MARENCO has become a reality.
photo by Yuichi Sugita
Kinashi continues to captivate people of all ages and genders with his unique, warm, and approachable personality, yet his timeless, sophisticated style and elegance. Meanwhile, the MARENCO sofa, with its warm, familiar form reminiscent of a zabuton cushion, has been loved by generations of Japanese people through careful maintenance, passed down through generations.
Its one-of-a-kind design transcends the realm of furniture, becoming a masterpiece that has inspired collaborations from designers and artists across the globe, making many people dream of owning a MARENCO sofa someday.
MARENCO 50th Anniversary Project, First Part: Collaboration with Noritake Kinashi
From July 8 to September 14, 2021, a traveling exhibition of the one-of-a-kind MARENCO by Noritake Kinashi will be held at Alfrex stores nationwide. Additionally, during the same period, we will be selling 50 MARENCO units with a special cover featuring a portion of the art piece by lottery.
Trailer
The main video will be released on the special page (https://www.arflex.co.jp/marenco50th/) on Thursday, July 8th.
https://youtu.be/A6rcAGIPdis
Marenco x Noritake Kinashi Art Piece (Not for Sale)
photo by Yuichi Sugita
Traveling Exhibition Schedule
・Alfrex Tokyo
Thursday, July 8th – Tuesday, July 27th, 11:00-18:00, Closed on Wednesdays
・Alfrex Tamagawa
Thursday, July 29th – Tuesday, August 10th, 11:00-19:00, Irregular holidays
・Alfrex Osaka
Thursday, August 19th – Tuesday, August 31st 11:00-18:00 Closed Wednesdays and public holidays
・ARFLEX Nagoya
Thursday, September 2nd - Tuesday, September 14th 11:00-18:00 Closed Wednesdays and public holidays
*Depending on social conditions, store hours may change or reservations may be required.
Please check our website for details.
Marenco x Noritake Kinashi Collaboration Model (Lottery Sale)
This model features a linen cover with the MARENCO logo and a print of Kinashi's signature work, "Gratitude," which is also depicted in his art pieces. It comes with an edition number autographed by Noritake Kinashi, and is limited to 50 units, sold by lottery. Applications will be accepted on the MARENCO 50th anniversary special page during the period, and the lottery sale will begin after the period ends.
Image of the Malenco x Noritake Kinashi collaboration model (lottery sale)
Size: W.1100 D.970 H.660 SH.390mm
Quantity: Limited to 50 units (with an edition number autographed by Noritake Kinashi)
Selling price: To be announced on Thursday, July 8, 2021
Application period: Thursday, July 8 - Tuesday, September 14, 2021
Sales method: Applications will be accepted via the dedicated form on the special page during the period, and the lottery sale will take place after the period ends.
Noritake Kinashi Noritake Kinashi
Noritake Kinashi
Born March 9, 1962. In 1980, he formed the duo Tunnels with his high school classmate, Takaaki Ishibashi. They won 10 weeks on NTV's "Owarai Star Tanjo" and took the grand prize. Since then, he has appeared on numerous variety shows. As a singer, he won the Japan Record Award for "Shameful" (1991), and had million-sellers with "Garagarahebi ga Yattekuru" (1992), "Ichiban Ii Hito e" (1992), and "Gajaimo" (1993). He began his solo music career in 2019, and his first album, "Kinashi Funk the Best," won eight awards, including the number one spot on the iTunes overall album chart. As a painter, he has had seven solo exhibitions since 1994, two touring exhibitions in Japan (8 locations from 2014 to 2016, and scheduled for 2018 to 2022), including the current one, and solo exhibitions overseas in New York and London. He designed the packaging for KitKat's 45th anniversary, and was the main creator of an art project by Adidas themed around the New Zealand rugby team, the "All Blacks," and also designed the official ball for the East Asian Football Championship held in 2019.
MARENCO
Since its release in 1971, the Marenco sofa has remained as popular as ever, even half a century later. Its design, which resembles simply layered cushions, is a somewhat humorous and warm form created by Italian designer and TV personality Mario Marenco from a sketch that took just a few seconds. Meanwhile, its extremely simple design, which is also reminiscent of the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, has proved popular, and the number of units sold and the number of repeat covers to date are far greater than any other sofa. Marenco has become a symbol of modern lifestyles, nesting in a variety of spaces, from Japanese-style rooms to homes with exposed concrete walls, and has undergone over 100 refinements to date, with the pursuit of comfort, durability, and ease of maintenance remaining unchanged without changing its design. As a result, it has become a sofa that embodies the idea of a sofa that can be loved for many years to come, passed down to loved ones through the ages and used comfortably for a long time.
MARENCO 50th Anniversary Special Page
URL: https://www.arflex.co.jp/marenco50th/
ARFlex
A furniture brand born in Italy in 1951, which began operations in Japan in 1969. It continues to create original Japanese products while incorporating contemporary sensibilities into universal values. The name arflex is an abbreviation of "arredamenti" (Italian for furniture) and "flexibility" (English for flexibility, adaptability). The name embodies our desire to create furniture that can adapt to any era and any environment. A timeless, simple design. Designed with careful consideration given to ease of use, safety, and durability down to the smallest detail. Maintenance and repairs can be made even decades after purchase, ensuring continued use across generations. We deliver high-quality products that meet all of these requirements and propose a fulfilling lifestyle for each and every customer. This has been the philosophy of arflex, unchanged since our founding. Official website: http://www.arflex.co.jp/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/arflexjapan Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/arflexjapan/ Contact Information: Arflex Japan Customer Service: 0120-33-1951 Hours: Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM URL: https://www.arflex.co.jp/ Press Release Details: Click here for company press release details
photo by Yuichi SugitaKinashi continues to captivate people of all ages and genders with his unique, warm, and approachable personality, yet his timeless, sophisticated style and elegance. Meanwhile, the MARENCO sofa, with its warm, familiar form reminiscent of a zabuton cushion, has been loved by generations of Japanese people through careful maintenance, passed down through generations.
Its one-of-a-kind design transcends the realm of furniture, becoming a masterpiece that has inspired collaborations from designers and artists across the globe, making many people dream of owning a MARENCO sofa someday.
MARENCO 50th Anniversary Project, First Part: Collaboration with Noritake Kinashi
From July 8 to September 14, 2021, a traveling exhibition of the one-of-a-kind MARENCO by Noritake Kinashi will be held at Alfrex stores nationwide. Additionally, during the same period, we will be selling 50 MARENCO units with a special cover featuring a portion of the art piece by lottery.
Trailer
The main video will be released on the special page (https://www.arflex.co.jp/marenco50th/) on Thursday, July 8th.
https://youtu.be/A6rcAGIPdis
Marenco x Noritake Kinashi Art Piece (Not for Sale)
photo by Yuichi SugitaTraveling Exhibition Schedule
・Alfrex Tokyo
Thursday, July 8th – Tuesday, July 27th, 11:00-18:00, Closed on Wednesdays
・Alfrex Tamagawa
Thursday, July 29th – Tuesday, August 10th, 11:00-19:00, Irregular holidays
・Alfrex Osaka
Thursday, August 19th – Tuesday, August 31st 11:00-18:00 Closed Wednesdays and public holidays
・ARFLEX Nagoya
Thursday, September 2nd - Tuesday, September 14th 11:00-18:00 Closed Wednesdays and public holidays
*Depending on social conditions, store hours may change or reservations may be required.
Please check our website
Marenco x Noritake Kinashi Collaboration Model (Lottery Sale)
This model features a linen cover with the MARENCO logo and a print of Kinashi's signature work, "Gratitude," which is also depicted in his art pieces. It comes with an edition number autographed by Noritake Kinashi, and is limited to 50 units, sold by lottery. Applications will be accepted on the MARENCO 50th anniversary special page during the period, and the lottery sale will begin after the period ends.
Image of the Malenco x Noritake Kinashi collaboration model (lottery sale)Size: W.1100 D.970 H.660 SH.390mm
Quantity: Limited to 50 units (with an edition number autographed by Noritake Kinashi)
Selling price: To be announced on Thursday, July 8, 2021
Application period: Thursday, July 8 - Tuesday, September 14, 2021
Sales method: Applications will be accepted via the dedicated form on the special page during the period, and the lottery sale will take place after the period ends.
Noritake Kinashi Noritake Kinashi
Noritake KinashiBorn March 9, 1962. In 1980, he formed the duo Tunnels with his high school classmate, Takaaki Ishibashi. They won 10 weeks on NTV's "Owarai Star Tanjo" and took the grand prize. Since then, he has appeared on numerous variety shows. As a singer, he won the Japan Record Award for "Shameful" (1991), and had million-sellers with "Garagarahebi ga Yattekuru" (1992), "Ichiban Ii Hito e" (1992), and "Gajaimo" (1993). He began his solo music career in 2019, and his first album, "Kinashi Funk the Best," won eight awards, including the number one spot on the iTunes overall album chart. As a painter, he has had seven solo exhibitions since 1994, two touring exhibitions in Japan (8 locations from 2014 to 2016, and scheduled for 2018 to 2022), including the current one, and solo exhibitions overseas in New York and London. He designed the packaging for KitKat's 45th anniversary, and was the main creator of an art project by Adidas themed around the New Zealand rugby team, the "All Blacks," and also designed the official ball for the East Asian Football Championship held in 2019.
MARENCO
Since its release in 1971, the Marenco sofa has remained as popular as ever, even half a century later. Its design, which resembles simply layered cushions, is a somewhat humorous and warm form created by Italian designer and TV personality Mario Marenco from a sketch that took just a few seconds. Meanwhile, its extremely simple design, which is also reminiscent of the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, has proved popular, and the number of units sold and the number of repeat covers to date are far greater than any other sofa. Marenco has become a symbol of modern lifestyles, nesting in a variety of spaces, from Japanese-style rooms to homes with exposed concrete walls, and has undergone over 100 refinements to date, with the pursuit of comfort, durability, and ease of maintenance remaining unchanged without changing its design. As a result, it has become a sofa that embodies the idea of a sofa that can be loved for many years to come, passed down to loved ones through the ages and used comfortably for a long time.
MARENCO 50th Anniversary Special Page
URL: https://www.arflex.co.jp/marenco50th/
ARFlex
A furniture brand born in Italy in 1951, which began operations in Japan in 1969. It continues to create original Japanese products while incorporating contemporary sensibilities into universal values. The name arflex is an abbreviation of "arredamenti" (Italian for furniture) and "flexibility" (English for flexibility, adaptability). The name embodies our desire to create furniture that can adapt to any era and any environment. A timeless, simple design. Designed with careful consideration given to ease of use, safety, and durability down to the smallest detail. Maintenance and repairs can be made even decades after purchase, ensuring continued use across generations. We deliver high-quality products that meet all of these requirements and propose a fulfilling lifestyle for each and every customer. This has been the philosophy of arflex, unchanged since our founding. Official website: http://www.arflex.co.jp/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/arflexjapan Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/arflexjapan/ Contact Information: Arflex Japan Customer Service: 0120-33-1951 Hours: Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM URL: https://www.arflex.co.jp/ Press Release Details: Click here for company press release details
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