96【KURO】 plate series

96【KURO】plate series

Client: TM CO., LTD.
Design Company: NISHIMURA DESIGN
Creative Direction, Art Direction & Design: Takayuki Nishimura
Country: Japan

96【KURO】is a black-dyed stainless steel tableware brand.

Our base, Tsubame-Sanjo, has grown to be known as the manufacturing centre for metal products. Metal tableware is one of them, and while many products are born, many are discontinued - left with many unused moulds. With the cooperation of the local factories, we decided to use existing moulds instead of making new ones. Moreover, we decided to use cloths as our packaging; as it can be reused and recycled, to wrap the product. Overall, we strived to implement an environmentally friendly manufacturing process.

Stainless steel tableware has it’s advantage: it does not break or crack. However, the silver metal colour of stainless steel gives off a cold image. We decided to dye our tableware black to add a touch of warmth and to make the food appear more appetising.

Black dyeing of stainless steel is not widely known. Unlike the technique of overcoating, we blacken the metal by penetrating the inside from its surface. This special technique derives since ancient times and has no negative affects on the human body.