Bringing Te-ma to Copenhagen
In Copenhagen, design is woven into everyday life. From historic buildings and waterfront districts to contemporary architecture and public spaces, the city reflects a culture that values thoughtful design and considers how people live, move and connect.
This year marked KINTO's first participation at 3daysofdesign, Denmark's Official Design Festival and Copenhagen's Design Week. We partnered with studio x kitchen, a design-forward café and eatery that has become an integral part of Copenhagen's community through its intentional approach to food, coffee, and hospitality. Rooted in a shared appreciation for craftsmanship, connection and everyday moments, the collaboration provided a natural setting to introduce Te-ma [てま]—a Japanese concept that celebrates the time, care and intention behind making.
Understanding Te-ma
てま [Te-ma] is a Japanese concept that speaks to the time, care and intentional effort invested in something. During our opening event, KINTO Chief Brand Officer, Shimpei Koide described it as "choosing, on purpose, to go slowly, and to do something by hand."
For us, Te-ma can be found in the small rituals that often go unnoticed such as the simple act of preparing a pour-over coffee after dinner and enjoying it with family.
Te-ma invites us to pause and recognise the value of everyday experiences. Some moments become meaningful precisely because of the care we choose to give them.
This became the foundation of KINTO's exhibition in collaboration with studio x kitchen during 3daysofdesign.
Bringing Te-ma to Life with studio x kitchen
Part café, part creative gathering space, studio x kitchen felt like a natural setting for the exhibition bringing Te-ma to life. KINTO and studio x kitchen share a belief that some of life's most meaningful moments happen when people gather around food, coffee and conversation.
At the centre of the exhibition were two collections that embodied different expressions of Te-ma: MUI Tableware and FUTO Textiles. Together, they explored the relationship between materials, craftsmanship and everyday moments. Showcased in the exhibition were materials used at the factories where FUTO products are made, including a part of a loopwheel knitting machine from Wakayama, a shuttle loom from Hamamatsu, and thread from Nagano, Japan, which is used to make the WHOLEGARMENT bags and bottle slings.
Opening Event with seasonal bites & drinks
On June 10th, our exhibition opened during 3daysofdesign, and to mark the occasion, studio x kitchen created a special menu served on MUI tableware. Throughout the festival, the kitchen team wore FUTO high-density cotton aprons woven in Hamamatsu, Japan.
The menu reflected the same philosophy of thoughtful craftsmanship, featuring seasonal dishes such as focaccia toast with ricotta, fresh peas, and yuzu miso vinaigrette, served on MUI deep plates. A delicate buttermilk (koldskål) mousse with peaches, apricots, and lavender was presented in the new LUX glassware, while specialty coffee from Coffee Collective was served in our MUI mugs.
For the opening afternoon, brown butter tartlets topped with strawberries, rhubarb, and elderflower were served alongside a special KINTO Radler made with yuzu and non-alcoholic IPA, presented in CAST glasses. Every detail, from the food to the presentation, reflected the care and intention behind the collaboration.
Te-ma with io いほ
In collaboration with io いほ japanese teahouse, guests were invited to enjoy a cold brew tea tasting on Friday, June 12th, the last day of 3daysofdesign. Like KINTO, io approaches tea as an opportunity to slow down, be present and engage more deeply with the moment at hand.
Led by Yukiko, tea specialist and co-founder of io, guests enjoyed cold-brewed sencha and hojicha served in KINTO’s UNITEA carafes. Rooted in the spirit of てま [Te-ma], the gathering offered a moment to slow down, connect, and appreciate the time and care behind our daily preparations – a thoughtful way to round out the week of 3daysofdesign.
The collaboration also reflected a shared appreciation for craftsmanship. Just as KINTO celebrates the makers behind its products, io-te highlights the growers, regions and traditions behind each tea. Together, both brands invited visitors to experience Te-ma not as an abstract concept, but through everyday moments that encourage connection and reflection.
The Stories Behind MUI and FUTO
At the heart of the exhibition were two collections that embodied the philosophy of Te-ma in different ways: MUI Tableware and FUTO Textiles.
Rooted in local craft traditions, MUI is made from a characteristic clay from the Tono region of Japan. Each piece is designed by artisans to feel simple but warm, crafted to feel comfortable in hand, so it easily becomes a part of daily life over time. Due to the organic material, there are subtle variations in each piece, showcasing the natural beauty of clay.
Alongside MUI, the exhibition featured FUTO, KINTO's textile brand. For FUTO Director Asako Sakata, every product begins with the fabric itself. "The creative process always starts with discovering a fabric and imagining what it wants to become," she explained.
Through FUTO, KINTO celebrates traditional techniques from across Japan, including loopwheel-knitted T-shirts from Wakayama, densely woven cotton fabrics produced on shuttle looms in Hamamatsu, and WHOLEGARMENT knitting technology developed in Nagano.
Together, MUI and FUTO offered two perspectives on Te-ma. Whether expressed through ceramics or textiles, both collections celebrate the time, care and human effort that transform raw materials into thoughtful objects that can be cherished over time.
A Shared Appreciation for Craftsmanship
While Te-ma originates in Japan, its message felt particularly at home in Copenhagen. Throughout 3daysofdesign, themes of craftsmanship, community and intentional living appeared across the city, echoing values that have long shaped both Japanese and Danish design cultures.
Through the exhibition with our partners at studio x kitchen and io いほ, KINTO sought to create a space where visitors in Copenhagen could pause and reflect on the moments that matter most. Much like the Danish idea of hygge, てま [Te-ma] reminds us that meaning is often found not only in extraordinary experiences, but in the little moments and relationships that shape everyday life.
studio x kitchen
studio x kitchen is a cosy, design-forward café and eatery located in central Copenhagen, led by creative director Vannesa Ahuactzin and illustrator Rune Fisker. The space combines seasonal, artisanal food with carefully chosen tableware, creating a simple breakfast and lunch offering rooted in local ingredients.
Alongside its menu, studio x kitchen functions as a community space celebrating Scandinavian design and slow living. The interior and window displays evolve throughout the seasons, showcasing art, ceramics, textiles, and objects from collaborators and makers.
Photography : Ditte Mørkholt, Gabija Seredaite, Nanako Saito
3daysofdesign Videography : Yuta Sawamura
MUI and FUTO Videography : Masaaki Inoue and Masaki Miyamoto
Florals : Kumiko Hasaka
Window Painting : SKILTEVÆRKSKILTEVÆRK