Founded by leading Japanese furniture manufacturer Karimoku in 2009, Karimoku New Standard is defined by its fusion of progressive ideas and manufacturing excellence. Bringing together the unique perspectives of Karimoku’s craftsmen and a select group of international designers, the brand presents new standards in Japanese furniture design.

Karimoku New Standard’s pursuit of high-quality outcomes includes responsible production, starting with the material itself. Sustainably grown Japanese hardwoods are sourced from northern Japan as part of an initiative to revitalise the forests and the industries they support. The low-diameter trees, which are often discarded or used as paper pulp, are processed in regional workshops before taking shape through a combination of skilled craftsmanship and advanced technology.

Over the past decade the brand has evolved through its collaborative approach and the belief that true standards should not only be universal, but exemplary in nature. This philosophy continues to inspire the brand’s designers and craftsmen, who strive to create innovative furniture of the highest quality, imbued with a sense of joy.

Karimoku New Standard is one of a number of brands in the Karimoku Group, a network of companies spanning procurement, production, retail and distribution. The origins of Karimoku date back to 1940, when Shohei Kato took over a longstanding timber company and established a small woodworking shop in the town of Kariya, Aichi. The company produced various wooden parts in the ensuing decades, developing a range of techniques and technology before launching its own line of wooden furniture in the 1960s. Building upon the concept of manufacturing high-tech and high-touch products, the company established bases in timber production areas and soon developed into one of Japan’s leading manufacturers of wooden furniture.