石巻工房は、宮城県石巻市沿岸部の商店街で2011年に生まれた、DIY のスキルと精神を活かした家具工房です。当初は、東日本大震災の津波により大きな被害を受けたエリアで、芦沢啓治を中心としたデザイナーなどの有志が補修道具や木材を集めて提供。復旧・復興のために自由に使える公共的な施設としてスタートしました。
被災者自らが手を動かす「DIY（Do It Yourself）」の支援活動をワークショップ形式で行うほか、地元の店舗を復旧。その後、「手づくり」にデザインの付加価値を与え、地域内外で販売して自立するための「石巻工房ブランド」を立ち上げました。参画するのは、実力ある国内外の若手デザイナー。そして、工房では元寿司職人である千葉隆博工房長をはじめ6名のスタッフが働いています。
石巻工房では現在でもワークショップを国内外で主催し、海外での販売・現地生産（Made in Localプロジェクト）
パートナーも広がっています。そして2020年秋、石巻工房の近くに「石巻ホームベース」を設けました。ショールームやカフェ、ゲストハウスなどを備える新たな拠点として、訪れる人に石巻工房の精神を伝えています。
石巻工房は自らのアイデアとストーリーとともに、地域をかたちづくるエンジンとして、またDIY の世界と可能性をデザインの力で押し広げる世界初の「DIYレーベル」として歩み出しています。
Ishinomaki Laboratory is a furniture workshop that draws on the skills and spirit of DIY. Founded in 2011, the workshop was set up in the coastal area of Ishinomaki, Miyagi, which was devastated by the tsunami triggered by the Great East Japan Earthquake. In the beginning, Ishinomaki Laboratory began as a common utility space where residents in the disaster area could freely access materials and tools – as provided by designers and volunteers led by Tokyo-based architect Keiji Ashizawa – in order to conduct their own repair work. Along with running DIY workshops for residents affected by the disaster, Ishinomaki Laboratory also participated in restoring local shops. The true value and appeal of “handmade” products was rekindled through these activities, with various design ideas leading to the establishment of the Ishinomaki Laboratory label to market the products beyond the local community. A roster of young, talented designers from Japan and abroad contribute to the planning and products behind the brand. Six staff members work under the supervision of former sushi chef Takahiro Chiba, who handles the day-today operations as the workshop leader. Even now, the furniture brand still holds workshops in Japan and internationally, as well as continues to increase its global reach by collaborating with partners around the world in both retail and local production through our Made in Local initiative. A new base functioning as a showroom, cafe, guesthouse, and more, it conveys the spirit of Ishinomaki Laboratory to visitors. Through its story and philosophy, Ishinomaki Laboratory is becoming a driving force for shaping the local community and region, in addition to pushing forward as the world’s first DIY label – expanding the world of DIY and its potential through the power of design.
