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Kawabi

  • New York, USA

A Poetic Approach to Kozo Paper

The Bio

Kawabi is the New York–based studio practice of Aaron and Irisa Na-Chan Kawabi, a creative partnership born from their shared journey as artists, designers, and descendants of diaspora. Meeting at Parsons School of Design, where they both studied product design, their early collaborations evolved into a dedicated practice grounded in shared values: honoring cultural inheritance, exploring the meaning of home, and transforming craft into a language of belonging.

Guided by a deep spiritual and aesthetic connection to Eastern traditions, Kawabi’s work embraces the slow, intentional processes of traditional joinery and paper-making. Each piece is conceived as both a functional object and an emotional touchstone—imagined heirlooms that feel ancient yet new, rooted in a deeper history yet untethered from any single time or place. Their practice reflects a personal journey to create what they never inherited: design objects that evoke the warmth, familiarity, and presence of a long-lost home.

Working from their intimate Brooklyn studio near the Navy Yard, the pair moves fluidly between woodshop and craft space, allowing hand, mind, and body to remain in constant dialogue. Their process is tactile and immersive, informed by intuition, lived experience, and the belief that beauty and harmony in the home can foster peace and emotional attunement. Each creation—whether a paper lamp, a piece of furniture, or a finely crafted vessel—serves as an offering to daily life, embodying Kawabi’s vision of design as both art and quiet ritual.

Get in touch with us if any inquiries into Kawabi's work

Get In Touch

The Products
  • Souvenir Table Lamp Souvenir Table Lamp
    • Souvenir Table Lamp
    • 1.700 EUR
    • Kawabi
    • ex. VAT
  • Souvenir Floor Lamp Souvenir Floor Lamp
    • Souvenir Floor Lamp
    • 7.050 EUR
    • Kawabi
    • ex. VAT
  • Legume Lamp Legume Lamp
    • Legume Lamp
    • 1.900 EUR
    • Kawabi
    • ex. VAT
  • Cascade Pendant Cascade Pendant
    • Cascade Pendant
    • 4.350 EUR
    • Kawabi
    • ex. VAT

The Conversation

Looking back, is there an early memory — an object, a place, or a person — that first awakened your sensitivity to form and beauty?

I was always captivated by the beauty of nature and also the grandeur of historical and antique architecture. As a child, I remember being fascinated by buildings like the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona or the Colosseum in Roma, not just for their size, but for the intricate details, the harmony of their forms, and the stories they tell through stone and space.

What keeps you restless, returning again and again to the studio? Is it curiosity, discipline, a need to prove something, or something else entirely?

It's the beauty of imagining and creating — the thrill of bringing something into existence that didn’t exist before, to bring new emotion and new vision to life.

When life feels overwhelming, where do you find peace? Is there a ritual, a place, or a practice that helps you return to yourself and to inspiration?

100% in nature. As I live in Switzerland and if I have only few hours I go to the Geneva lake or in the Alps. If I have a bit more time I go surfing in south west France near Hossegor or also surfing in Portugal as in Ericeira, Caparica or other places.

Makers and moments You often collaborate closely with artisans. Beyond the work itself, what have these relationships taught you about patience, humility, or even friendship?

It has taught me that true excellence requires a lot of skills and takes a lot of time. Perfect quality is a big part, so it will take as long as it takes to achieve perfection. And of course I learned a lot about patience and how to manage these situations. Beyond the work itself, these collaborations often lead to friendships, built on trust. It’s also an important part and this makes the collaboration easier and more interesting. I only work with artisans who share same vision and values.
Featured product or designer at work

Work with Kawabi

Through The Orb, you can collaborate directly with Kawabi to create a bespoke or custom piece. Each project is developed through close dialogue, material exploration, and craftsmanship—resulting in a work shaped specifically for you.
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