foreque inc reveals its interior and lifestyle brand titled ‘FIL'

based on the concept of ‘fulfilling life, a life that is full’, japanese brand FIL – initiated by foreque inc – aims to apply this vision to their products by way of carefully preserving and protecting the natural landscape of the aso region in japan — evoking a profound relationship between nature and humans. the company utilizes an innovative, environmentally friendly, and sustainable thinning process of local minamioguni materials to produce contemporary furniture and fragrance products. as the team expresses it ‘FIL strives to create products that can be used a lifetime, rich in their characteristics, and stimulate a deep connection between humans and the materials’. 

MASS series lounge chair – natural wood & copper frame 161,000 JPY

according to FIL, the aso region is a challenging environment with active volcanoes and caldera, seismic activity and earthquakes, and a vast mountain range. the region, which has over 300,000 years of history, has overcome many natural disasters, and the locals have persisted by embracing nature and seeking out byproducts from volcanic activity. such perseverance has resulted in a region abundant in sensational hot springs and natural spring water. ‘we hope to pass on to the next generation the history, culture, tradition, landscape, and materials that the people and nature have augmented with honor’, continues the company. 

MASS series 900round table – natural wood & copper frame 189,500 JPY

on the other hand, FIL has a true commitment to coniferous trees (cedar), which have an extensive range across japan. however, with decreasing prices of wood and a lack of lumber specialists, it is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain conifers and sustain forests and mountains. ‘we believe that it is crucial to address these issues through our current project. FIL aims to renew the value in cedar through cutting-edge and modern interior designs, and ultimately contributing to reviving and sustaining forests and mountains’. 

MASS series coathanger – natural wood & copper frame 136,500 JPY

all FIL products utilize oguni cedar, a locally grown timber that is distinct to minamioguni and the aso region. oguni cedar is highly appraised nationally for its strength, gloss, and viscosity, and is considered to be unique to japan. typically, furniture and other wood-based items are produced with walnut or oak wood, which boasts deep shades and solid texture. in turn, oguni cedar is rather low in fiber density and contains a lot of oxygen in the wood, which leads to a softer feel when applying pressure on the surface.

the MASS Series furniture line embodies such characteristics of the ‘mass of the tree’. the light and airy qualities in the chairs produced with oguni cedar are further enhanced with complementing materials such as nordic style of fabric and copper frames, making the chairs highly comfortable and fitting the body nicely.

MASS series 4leg stool 136,850JPY

as for the FIL fragrance line, one of the products that is garnering attention is the ‘lava pot-pourri susano’. with an objective to create potpourri enhanced by oguni cedar, this FIL original fragrance item was developed in collaboration with miya shinma PARFUMS of paris, who has received critical acclaim for her work in spreading japanese fragrance across europe. the potpourri, which is all carefully hand-made, blends the oguni cedar oils with natural aromas of rosewood, patchouli, and frankincense, leading to an eloquent and warm fragrance.

aroma candle 7,800JPY / pot-pourri 17,800JPY / sugi cup (large) 6,400JPY

‘at FIL, we extract essential oils from the branches and leaves of the oguni cedar that are left unused after lumber trimming in order to prevent unnecessary waste of materials. such practices are motivated by fil’s vision of contributing to the preservation of the environment and forest, and also supporting the woodworkers who make these materials available’. 

SUGI CUP (medium）5,800JPY

pot-pourri 17,800JPY

pot-pourri 17,800JPY

minamioguni town, aso district, kumamoto japan

minamioguni town, aso district, kumamoto japan

minamioguni town, aso district, kumamoto japan

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lea zeitoun | designboom