For Corner43 Decor, rattan has never been just a furniture material — it’s a starting point for possibility. This September, we’re taking that idea to one of Asia’s leading lifestyle and design trade fairs, sharing how a single natural material can be pushed, reshaped, and reimagined into something entirely new.

Material in Motion

Our booth is built around a simple idea — not simply what a material is, but what it can become — expressed through four stages of our material development process:

• ORIGIN — Natural Rattan. Warm, flexible, tactile: the starting point of every design.
• TRANSFORM — Bending & Forming. Straight rattan becomes curve, structure, and expressive form.
• REINTERPRET — Recomposed Rattan. Production offcuts, cut to uniform lengths and linked with finer rattan, become modular textures and forms — nothing goes to waste.
• EVOLVE — New Material Possibilities. Rice husk PE rattan and PP rope extend a familiar material language into contemporary applications.

Fittingly, our booth sits in the zone named “SOZAI” — the Japanese word for material — a small coincidence that lines up perfectly with the story we’re there to tell.

Why This Matters

LIFE x DESIGN is one of the flagship sections of the Tokyo International Gift Show, bringing together international buyers, interior designers, architects, and manufacturers under one roof. For a Thailand-based rattan and material studio, exhibiting here is a direct line to global retail buyers and design-led brands looking for craftsmanship, sustainable material innovation, and manufacturing partners who can scale with them.

It’s also a chance to show what’s possible when traditional Thai rattan craft meets a genuine R&D mindset — from hand-bending techniques to upcycled offcut recomposition to next-generation rattan-alternative materials.

Visit Us

• Show: LIFE x DESIGN 2026 (20th edition), part of the Tokyo International Gift Show
• Dates: September 2–4, 2026
• Venue: Tokyo Big Sight, Tokyo, Japan
• Booth: SOZAI, West Hall 4

If you’re an interior designer, retail buyer, or distributor exploring rattan and next-generation natural materials, come find us on the floor. Following along from afar? We’ll be sharing behind-the-scenes updates from the booth on Instagram throughout the show.

Additional Information 

• LIFE × DESIGN 2026: Official Event Website
• Corner 43 Decor Japan: Corner 43 Decor Japan
• Website: www.corner43.com
• Instagram: @corner43decor 
• Email: info@corner43.com

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At Corner43Decor, we believe that meaningful design begins with a deep understanding of materials, craftsmanship, and real-world production processes. Beyond creating contemporary furniture, we are committed to fostering knowledge exchange between academia and industry, empowering the next generation of designers to explore new possibilities through hands-on learning.

As part of this commitment, Corner43Decor welcomed exchange students from the Design Innovation (DI) Program, School of Architecture and Design (SoA+D), King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), for an immersive learning experience focused on contemporary furniture design, material innovation, and sustainable development.

The workshop provided students with the opportunity to explore the design process from concept to creation. Through interactive sessions and practical demonstrations, participants gained insights into material selection, weaving techniques, prototyping, and product development—bridging the gap between design theory and industry practice.

Material Innovation as a Catalyst for Creative Possibilities

A key highlight of the program was the introduction to NaturaPlas, an innovative material developed by SK Polymer. Students were encouraged to explore how advanced materials can influence the design process, offering new opportunities for functionality, aesthetics, and sustainability.

Today, material innovation plays a critical role in shaping the future of design. Understanding the properties, performance, and environmental impact of materials enables designers to make informed decisions and create products that are both innovative and responsible.

Through discussions and hands-on exploration, participants discovered how emerging materials can be integrated with contemporary design thinking and traditional craftsmanship to create meaningful and sustainable solutions.

Connecting Education with Industry Experience

The program was further enriched by knowledge-sharing sessions from industry experts at TRT (THAIRUBBERTECH) and SK Polymer. Their insights into material development, manufacturing technologies, and industry challenges provided students with valuable perspectives beyond the classroom.

By engaging directly with professionals, participants gained a deeper understanding of how ideas evolve from research and development to production and market implementation. These experiences help prepare future designers for the realities of working within a rapidly changing design and manufacturing landscape.

A Collaboration Beyond the Classroom

This learning experience reflects the ongoing collaboration between Corner43Decor, SK Polymer, and KMUTT, aimed at creating opportunities for students to engage with real materials, real processes, and real-world challenges.

We believe that meaningful innovation emerges when education, industry, and design practice come together. By supporting collaborative learning initiatives, we hope to inspire future designers to think critically, experiment boldly, and develop solutions that contribute to a more sustainable future.

Corner43Decor would like to extend our sincere appreciation to SK Polymer, TRT (THAIRUBBERTECH), and the School of Architecture and Design (SoA+D), KMUTT, for their partnership and dedication to advancing design education through experiential learning.

Together, we continue to explore new possibilities where material innovation, craftsmanship, and contemporary design converge.

Explore the student projects developed through the Corner43Decor × SK Polymer collaboration:

https://soadshowcase.kmutt.ac.th/work/corner-43-sk-polymer-cooperation/

Let’s Continue the Conversation

At Corner43Decor, we believe that innovation grows through collaboration. Whether you’re a designer, educator, industry partner, or design enthusiast, we welcome opportunities to exchange ideas and explore new possibilities together.

Get in touch:

info@corner43.com

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