小時候搞不懂什麼叫「山貨」，只隱約知道不是塑膠的製品，而常常是由棕褐色的藤枝竹條所製成的各樣生活道具；比方說是市場採買時會帶上的藤籃、鄰居阿伯放走廊的小矮櫈，還有壞小孩最害怕的藤條，接著就再沒有什麼明晰的印象。
直至長大以後，方知道「山貨」指的是「山區的物產」，且不只有華人地區，周邊毗鄰的國家中也不乏這種把山區物資運用於居家生活的工藝文化。像這次要介紹的HAIRU藤籃，就是基於日本溫泉旅館中常見的設備，經重新丈量、調整尺寸後推出，是好看又十分溫暖的家用品。
與香港山貨凋零的情況近似，儘管日本有著深刻悠久的匠人文化，卻也同樣面臨工業生產、批量製品的嚴酷考驗，家庭用的傳統製品已不多見。由小野里奈設計的HAIRU藤籃，其參考的對象是溫泉旅館供客人置衣用的藤籃。跟現在傳統產業意欲轉營時，紛紛開發全新商品，或是結合生活時尚形象氛圍的作法不同，小野里奈倒不著眼於表現個人的設計力，只針對傳統藤籃的尺寸小修小改，以適應現代家庭的需求，完全保留了該工藝品原有的形狀與工法。
HAIRU藤籃總共有圓形、方形和橢圓形三款輪廓，並可以自行選擇「置衣籃」、「浴室置物籃」和「附腳籃」等三款設計。而對於欣賞工藝價植、喜好傳統物料的讀者而言，這大概就是一個可以長伴生活左右、歷久彌新的生活用具。
When I was little, I did not fully understand what “mountain articles” were. I only had a vague idea that they were not plastic products but were various household articles usually made of brown rattan or bamboo strips. Things that have formed my impression include rattan baskets brought along to the market for shopping, the stool placed on the corridor by the old man living next door, as well as rattan sticks that naughty children fear the most. I did not have any clearer idea than that.
After becoming an adult, I finally knew “mountain articles” refer to “products from the mountainous region”. What is more, this craft culture of applying materials from the mountains to the household can be found not only in Chinese communities, but also in some neighboring countries as well. A case in point is the HAIRU rattan basket featured in this article. It is a design based on products commonly seen in hot spring ryokans in Japan. Released following an adjustment in its size and proportion, this new product is a household item which not only has an appealing appearance but also radiates warmth.
Just as the market for mountain articles is on the wane in Hong Kong, that in Japan also faces bitter competition from industrialized and batch production despite its longstanding tradition in artisan culture. Traditional household products can no longer be found easily. The design of this HAIRU rattan basket, created by Rina Ono, has drawn references to those rattan baskets found in hot spring ryokan for guests to put their clothes in. Contrary to the approach by traditional businesses hoping to transform their business by actively developing brand new products, or by blending in stylish lifestyle elements, Rina Ono does not attach importance to showcasing her designing skills. Instead, she purely focuses on minor adjustments to the measurement of traditional rattan baskets to cater for the demand of modern families while totally retaining the original shape and production method of the craft item.
The HAIRU rattan basket collection comes in three different shapes of round, rectangular, and oval. In addition, customers can also choose among three designs including “clothes basket”, “bathroom storage basket” and “basket with legs”. For those readers who appreciate craft and traditional materials, this item is going to be durable household tool that can keep you company in life for years to come.
