Japan’s Hidaka Washi Produces the World’s Thinnest Paper

From their factory in the Kochi prefecture of Japan, Hidaka Washi produces tengujo, the world’s thinnest paper, which has been produced for more than 1000 years in the region. Hidaka Washi has done so since first opening their doors in 1949. There, workers soak the stems of mulberry trees (kozo) and then pound them into lumps of fibers. With the addition of all-natural neri, and …

Futuristic Bodysuits For Bars and Nightclubs

Albeit far-fetched, a novel garment proposed by creative agency Production Club—designed for the post-pandemic world—protects the wearer from skin-to-skin contact, viruses transmitted through air or fluids, and even abrasions from a blade or a knife. Soft and flexible, the suit—called the Micrashell—incorporates a ventilation system, speakers for programmed club or bar music, “cartridges” that attach to the air supply to allow vaping or drinking, and a …

Creative Masks From Around the World

Beginning with the lucha libre-inspired masks of Isaías Huerta (a resident of Puebla, Mexico), Atlas Obscura explores creative face masks made all over the world. Huerta—a retired wrestler and current costume-maker—began designing masks for friends and family, eventually extending his output to others. As unique as Huerta’s designs are, his desire to enhance his masks with representations of personality is universal. Now, more than ever, …