In April 2026, visitors to the ISSEY MIYAKE store in Milan saw something surprising: paper waste turned into art and furniture. The project was called The Paper Log: Shell and Core. It was conceived by Satoshi Kondo of MIYAKE DESIGN STUDIO and developed with the ISSEY MIYAKE team and the Spanish architecture office Ensamble Studio. The special exhibition was shown in Milan from April 21 to May 5, 2026. (eu.isseymiyake.com)
The “paper log” is not normal paper. It is made from very thin pleated sheets used in the brand’s clothing process. These sheets protect fabric when it goes through the pleating machine. After that, the paper is compressed into a roll for transport and recycling. Kondo noticed that the roll looked like a tree trunk, with rings inside like wood. That simple idea changed everything: maybe this “waste” could become a new material. (eu.isseymiyake.com)
First, Kondo cut the rolls into stools, and these were later used as seats in an ISSEY MIYAKE Spring/Summer 2025 show in Paris. Then the idea grew. At Milan Design Week 2026, the project had two sides. “Core” showed furniture prototypes such as stools, chairs, benches, and tables. Some pieces were cut, glued, tied, or soaked in wax to test the paper’s strength. (eu.isseymiyake.com)
The other side was “Shell,” created by Ensamble Studio. The team peeled thin sheets from the logs, shaped them by hand or around existing objects, and added hardening materials so every fold and wrinkle stayed in place. The result looked light and soft, but also strong. In the store, “Shell” and “Core” stood together, showing two opposite ideas at once: soft and solid, fragile and tough, fashion and architecture. (eu.isseymiyake.com)
This is why the project is so interesting for learners of design—and English. It tells a simple but powerful story: a material that was almost thrown away got a second life. Instead of only recycling paper, the team gave it new beauty and new use. The Paper Log shows that good design can begin with a small question: “What else can this become?” (vogue.com)










