gentle artefacts
cultivated in Kyoto , curated in Brooklyn
Reimagining a world of gentle living, shaped by the collaborative efforts of tea agriculturalists, anthropologists, and contemporary artisans.
An artefact is something made or shaped by human activity. The concrete remnants of human practices, artefacts are the bedrock of material cultures—from modest tools to monumental works of art.
Often the simple, everyday objects around us are the products of exceptional traditions of craft and care. Artefacts have stories to tell and new human practices to inspire.
Today, with global consumption of Japan-produced teas recently rising, and especially given matcha’s seemingly sudden explosion in popularity in North America — becoming a viable (and increasingly available) alternative to coffee and in some quarters gaining status as an urbane, healthful lifestyle beverage — it is widely assumed that the present moment is the first time that Japanese tea production has been so pivotal for satisfying (and shaping) Western consumers’ palettes.
But in fact, the current ascendancy of Japan tea — and of course, matcha — in North American is a reemergence of a relationship between Japanese tea producers and American tea drinkers forged (and later largely forgotten) well over a century ago. Indeed, for most of the 19th century, Japan tea was tea in the United States; and this export market in turn was a definitive factors for shaping tea agriculture and farming practices in Japan. There is a significant sense in which tea expresses shifting relationships between Japanese and American agri- and consumer- cultures.
Established in 2025, Gentle_Artefacts is forged from and founded in this tradition of tea.
Inspired by vintage Japanese tea advertisements once used in the U.S, our design presents a modern interpretation of Japanese tea packaging while paying homage to a significant era in tea history between Japan and North America.
These early advertisements often depicted an idealized, yet historically inaccurate, vision of Japanese tea culture. Now, 200 years later, we aim to flip the narrative—continuing the conversation by sharing authentic stories directly from the growers, engaging with their agronomic craft and tea culture traditions, and showcasing their unique way of life.
Inspired by 1820s woodblock printing in Japan.
Welcome to our field notes—we hope to see you at our events and even out in the wild on field excursions.
A meaningful way to apply our skills—bridging creativity and tradition—to engage contemporary challenges facing practitioners of craft agriculture while honoring the cultural particularities and local contours of the places where traditions of craft continue to be cultivated. We found ourselves in the tea fields, inspired by experiences of encounter with craft tea farmers that encourage us to share their stories. Born in Brooklyn, we are excited to bring our energy to a world that speaks to us.
Gentle Artefacts’ "kamon" (家紋)
Founder’s tea club - As a new initiative, we are cultivating an intimate tea community, sharing deep insights and bespoke practices. We are preparing for our launch in July in Brooklyn, NYC, and leading up to it, we’ll be hosting a series of industry events and exclusive pre-bookings of our limited-run Senchas and Matchas—offering early access to our most dedicated supporters ahead of the official unveiling of each launch.