At Milan Design Week 2026, Issey Miyake showcased The Paper Log: Shell and Core, an experimental furniture series that transforms discarded production materials into sculptural objects “Shell” and furniture pieces “Core”. The Paper Log: Shell and Core, material experiment, led by Satoshi Kondo of MIYAKE DESIGN STUDIO in collaboration with Ensamble Studio. The paper based material was derived from compressed rolls of pleated paper, a manufacturing byproduct of the brand’s signature pleating process.
These dense cylindrical “paper logs” measuring roughly 80 cm high and 40 cm in diameter, resemble tree trunks, their layered interiors echoing growth rings and capturing the memory of the pleating process itself. Rather than recycling the material conventionally, design director Satoshi Kondo saw potential in its structure, cutting, carving, peeling and reshaping it into stools, benches, tables and chairs. This open-ended exploration found a natural counterpart in Ensamble Studio’s practice, which merges rigorous material research with a stripped-back approach to making. The project unfolds in two complementary approaches: Core, which treats the logs as solid material to be carved and hardened with wax or glue into functional furniture, and Shell, developed with Ensamble Studio, which peels the paper into delicate sheets and reforms them into lightweight sculptural forms. Each piece is inherently unique, shaped by the randomness of compressed layers and the hand of the maker.
The showcase is accompanied by a documentary that traces the making process, capturing an ongoing exchange between Ensamble Studio and the Paper Log project team.
