![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/80b6c4fe-a9bd-416d-a7c1-52f1e6c54a33/5eb40db2-c675-4b00-9b89-985d1fcc5579_rw_1920.jpg?h=bea53be56be8a41869d7f392796812d9)
Ichisenshin is a portable tea set. The name comes from a Japanese idiom 一意専心 that means: "With one's heart and soul." For me brewing a cup of tea is how a person can wordlessly show appreciation and affection for others.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/80b6c4fe-a9bd-416d-a7c1-52f1e6c54a33/1ea56aa3-2e8d-412e-8f9b-e87387d540c1_rw_1920.jpg?h=216bc93d7e0b8e61ce227bd4412875fc)
The concept for this tea set is portability. Make tea anytime, anywhere. For this reason, the set comes inside a handbag inspired by the grace of Origami to turn flat surfaces into three-dimensional objects. Its simplicity lies in the selection of a single material for seamless construction through laser cutting.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/80b6c4fe-a9bd-416d-a7c1-52f1e6c54a33/bef85e68-cd38-49bc-b5e3-d0ad24b27355_rw_1920.jpg?h=9657bdfba829afd757a8cae459217efe)
With the mentorship of Junko Tohara, an experienced artisan in natural dyes for fabrics, I designed a handkerchief (tea towel) for the set. It was dye through the traditional indigo dyeing technique, Aizome (藍染め), and finished with handmade Ginsai (銀彩), a silver painting technique. Here is the whole dyeing process of Aizome.
![Aizome dye mixture](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/80b6c4fe-a9bd-416d-a7c1-52f1e6c54a33/f9c07b06-1e00-4eb9-8ded-9c46e466b603_rw_600.png?h=f85f267cc8af5803f0557fac6122532c)
Aizome dye mixture
![The dye is bright green at the beginning.](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/80b6c4fe-a9bd-416d-a7c1-52f1e6c54a33/ee5f7149-33e0-41b5-9424-b9d40f1fc77f_rw_600.png?h=ccdfaaeb1de6218e401c6014670fcc58)
The dye is bright green at the beginning.
![It becomes emerald when oxidised.](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/80b6c4fe-a9bd-416d-a7c1-52f1e6c54a33/b661d0f2-9223-4c64-95a9-cfe4597d734f_rw_1200.png?h=952f504c670bc3c2473c564fdaea6872)
It becomes emerald when oxidised.
![After washed, it turns into indigo blue.](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/80b6c4fe-a9bd-416d-a7c1-52f1e6c54a33/2940f5bd-e564-47a4-b2bf-123629050f41_rw_600.png?h=603c06336b60948cdf44aa5f789255b4)
After washed, it turns into indigo blue.
![Dyed fabrics](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/80b6c4fe-a9bd-416d-a7c1-52f1e6c54a33/aa6b979a-0952-4be5-8a1a-e60417796b38_rw_600.png?h=725baf4a58d0f33fc6ca5a3741a7af5b)
Dyed fabrics
![Mrs Tohara and the design team](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/80b6c4fe-a9bd-416d-a7c1-52f1e6c54a33/be5e0089-776d-4a8a-8812-53d74eda99b1_rw_1200.png?h=0f0c104c13def3b760b09b2b6b29b2d3)
Mrs Tohara and the design team
Designer: Daniela Villalobos
Artisan collaborator: Tohara Junko
Technique: Laser cut, Aizome and Ginsai
Product: Tea set handbag
Year: 2018