Gifu ¨C In lush Gifu Prefecture lays a buried treasure a number of companies ¡ª including tile manufacturer X-iS ¡ª have built their fortunes upon: a type of clay that has cemented the region¡¯s reputation for crafting exquisite ceramics for centuries.
At X-iS¡¯s factory in Tajimi, in the prefecture, 35 employees diligently work across differing projects. Upstairs, two workers create a commissioned custom floral mosaic for a client, while downstairs, machines rumble, surrounded by tools and materials. There¡¯s also a gallery space with objects made of tiles that have curved, fluid designs, highlighting the tiles¡¯ ability to bend and meld to designs and unusual configurations.
The customization, and back and forth it entails, makes the tiles around 20% more expensive than their competitors, X-iS President Ken Kasai said, but he noted people were willing to pay for the quality.
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