f-pzl Inc. CEO Hiromi Nishijima describes the company’s products as “felt Legos.” The pieces use square felt, with the notched sides connecting to inner holes, bonding both pieces together. Connect the four joints together to create different objects. Inventor Nishijima came up with the idea after decoratively folding and preparing Japanese konyaku jelly, then began developing a working model. Through repeated trial and error, f-pzl was born in 2006, achieving an angular, systematic beauty that does not waste any parts. “I went through it over and over in my head, and when I finally figured it out it I felt like I’d really hit gold,” says Nishijima.

f-pzl is made of felt, and the pieces can be molding into any three dimensional object, including balls and clothing. The geometric patterns continue to expand the more one assembles, and the product’s artistic appeal can even be appreciated by adults. In 2013 a dress-making workshop for elementary school students was held, and one of the children forced the pieces together with their fingers, growing anxious. “At first I was worried, but the pieces didn’t break. Felt has elasticity, so it returned back to normal.” f-pzl poses no risk of injury like a solid object would, and can be fixed when a mistake is made, unlike paper products. Flexible, lightweight, and safe, f-pzl is a product with great potential.