Stage 1: Material

This is where it started. Raw fabric, cut and ready for assembly. The gold accents were embroidered to mimic the cracks filled in traditional kintsugi. Before construction, before fit testing: just the pattern laid flat.

First look at the material, gold detailing on blue velvet base fabric.

Stage 2: Assembly

Once assembled, we brought it to the table to assess construction quality, stitching and whether the concept translated from flat fabric to three dimensional form. This was the first moment we could judge if the design worked in reality.

Assembled sample on the design table, checking structure and visual balance.

Stage 3: Real world fit

The final test. On a dog, in motion, under real conditions. This is where we evaluate comfort, adjustability  and how the design reads when worn. Kintsugi looked strong on the table, but we chose not to move forward with production.

Why we didn't release it: The concept was solid, but the execution didn't feel distinct enough from what already exists in the market. It worked as a design exercise, but it didn't feel like a statement worth putting our name behind at launch.

Final stage: tested on a dog to assess fit, movement and visual impact.

What we learned

Kintsugi taught us what we didn't want to be. It looked good, functioned well, but didn't push hard enough. We needed something more disruptive, more unexpected. That thinking led directly to the Y1C1 colour changing harness, our actual first release.

Not every sample becomes a product. Some exist to clarify direction. Kintsugi clarified ours.

See what made it

Kintsugi didn't ship, but Y1C1 (Henka) did. Same commitment to design, executed without compromise. Limited to 100 units.

View Y1C1 Harness