0
scrolling
About AGOBAY

Drawing from the Japanese tradition of diving for precious pearls, AGOBAY was created to inspire a more beautiful and conscious life. Explore our founding story, philosophy, and intentions, and join us on a transformative journey beyond the mundane.

share

FROM AGO-WAN 英虞湾 TO AGOBAY

Early morning in Ise-Shima, Japan – the first rays of the sun caress the small curved rock formations, transforming their clusters of trees into shimmering emerald. Surrounding them, the tranquil waters gently sway. And there, a few women glide through the water, skilfully diving down and reemerging a few moments later.

The picturesque stretch of coastline is known as Ago-wan, and these women are the ‘Ama’ (Japanese for ‘Women of the Sea’). Without any tools, relying solely on the knowledge passed down to them through generations and a specific breathing technique, they dive into the ocean’s depth, carefully harvesting its treasures: abalone, sea urchins and precious pearls – all while respecting nature’s resources and rhythms.

While the coastline was the inspiration for AGOBAY’s name, the skills of the Ama stand for its vision: finding, celebrating and creating the pearls of this world – whether they come in the form of a single handmade product, an unforgettable experience or a place to feel at home.

Attention to quality and craft are at the core of our philosophy, while we share these rare finds in both digital and physical realms. We fondly refer to them as escapes, for they take us to magical places beyond the mundane, where time stretches, every detail aligns, and we experience with all our senses.

AGOBAY aims to approach every facet of life – from how we travel, to what we read, listen to, and experience, to the selection of objects surrounding us. It is an inspirational guide for those who seek to live their life with intention and savour its finer nuances, prioritising time over money and valuing quality over quantity. The visionary mind behind AGOBAY is René Allemann. With over 25 years of experience as a creative director, he has shaped the ideas, strategies and designs of numerous brands around the world. In 2023, with AGOBAY, he has brought his very own to life, alongside a dedicated team of individuals who live and share the same vision.

AGOBAY was borne of the desire to inspire, discover and create beauty with a purpose, so that we connect with life-minded individuals all over the world. I feel that, as creatives, this is our contribution to the world we live in.

René Allemann, Creative Director, AGOBAY

You’ll discover an atmospheric journal of stories, photographs and films. You’ll find an online shop filled with carefully chosen or purposefully created artisanal products, and soothing playlists to dive into. You’ll experience our warm world coming to life at our stores and cafés in selected cities, at fugitive events and in thoughtfully designed sanctuaries.

Sign up to our newsletters and be the first to know what’s new and coming next on AGOBAY, from new stories in our journal, additions to our online shop, monthly playlists, upcoming events, and everything else that inspires our world. Create your own profile to save your favourite escapes and much more.

Contributors

All Contributors
AGOBAY Team
Writers
Photographers & Filmmakers

AGOBAY Team

René Allemann
Lisbon & Zurich

Our visionary, aesthete and creative director who pursues beauty with a purpose and shapes everything that AGOBAY is and will be.

Photographers & Filmmakers

Bruno Augsburger
Ardez & Zurich

An adventurer whose lens captures nature in its dramatic aesthetics, creating beautiful shots with a cinematic flair.

Writers

Ben Davis
Tokyo

A Japanese-speaking writer with a longstanding interest in craftsmanship and sustainability, whose stories share depth and insights.

Writers

Danielle Demetriou
Kyoto

Our Kyoto-based writer, with British and Greek roots, passionately delves beneath the surface to create stories of depth and poetry.

AGOBAY Team

Thea Ferretti
Zurich

An eloquent writer with a flair for capturing the essence of individuals, places and objects, immersing you in the experience.

AGOBAY Team

Tanja Giampà
Zurich

As part of our creative team, our interior architect elevates our physical spaces, infusing them with our warm elegance.

AGOBAY Team

Carla Graça
Lisbon

As project coordinator and keen organiser, she makes our initiatives thrive while delighting everyone with her calm and charm.

AGOBAY Team

Sarah Hepp
Zurich

As part of the AGOBAY design team, she accompanies with a spirit of excellence various endeavours from conception to creation.

Writers

Katherine Kennard
Auckland

The voice that accompanies your discovery of artisans and places, replete with elegance, warmth and a sense of serenity.

Writers

Anna Dorothea Ker
Auckland

A worldly design and travel journalist with refined senses that capture the nuances making a place, an encounter, a story what it truly is.

Writers

Ulf Lippitz
Berlin

A well-travelled journalist with a keen interest in culture and all that enriches life, always with the right questions at hand.

AGOBAY Team

Palma Manco
Zurich

Our Zurich showroom host introduces you to our collection with all the enthusiasm of an avowed lover of handcrafted masterpieces.

Writers

Soraia Martins
Lisbon

A storyteller who captures the desires, dreams and essence of anyone she speaks to with intelligence and sensitivity.

AGOBAY Team

Lisa Murkudis
Berlin

With an exquisite and subtle touch, our gracious editor brings our journal to life, weaving stories that inspire us and hold a special place in our hearts.

Photographers & Filmmakers

João Pedro Plácido
Lisbon

An international cinematographer whose trained and sensitive eye captures details as much as atmospheres and stolen moments.

Photographers & Filmmakers

Clemens Poloczek
Berlin

A gifted filmmaker with a contemporary, artistic aesthetic that chimes with our sense of authenticity, emotion and warm elegance.

AGOBAY Team

Olivia Sasse
Zurich

A perceptive and curious filmmaker, adept at capturing delicate nuances that weave beautiful tales for discerning eyes.

Photographers & Filmmakers

Nico Schaerer
Zurich

A world traveller who masterfully captures the beauty of nature, people and places with light-heartedness and depth at once.

AGOBAY Team

Saskia Schick
Zurich

Our expert project coordinator, known for her keen attention to detail, injects energy and a sense of ease into our endeavours.

Photographers & Filmmakers

Matilde Travassos
Lisbon

A passionate individual who captures the beauty of a moment or the essence of connection with an enchanting sense of wonder.

AGOBAY Team

Celia Uribe
Zurich

Our radiant host welcomes you with a warm smile at our Zurich café and store, attuned to your unspoken wishes.

Writers

Rebeca Vaisman
Barcelona

A journalist originally from Peru, who instinctively captures the essence of her surroundings and expresses it with great sensitivity.

Writers

Abbie Vora
Berlin

The Australian-born writer is dedicated to crafting beautifully woven narratives that foster a profound sense of resonance.

Photographers & Filmmakers

Zissou
Bali

Living amid the lush Balinese jungle, he finds the tranquillity and inspiration he pours into his exquisite photography.

AGOBAY Team

René Allemann
Lisbon & Zurich

Our visionary, aesthete and creative director who pursues beauty with a purpose and shapes everything that AGOBAY is and will be.

AGOBAY Team

Thea Ferretti
Zurich

An eloquent writer with a flair for capturing the essence of individuals, places and objects, immersing you in the experience.

AGOBAY Team

Tanja Giampà
Zurich

As part of our creative team, our interior architect elevates our physical spaces, infusing them with our warm elegance.

AGOBAY Team

Carla Graça
Lisbon

As project coordinator and keen organiser, she makes our initiatives thrive while delighting everyone with her calm and charm.

AGOBAY Team

Sarah Hepp
Zurich

As part of the AGOBAY design team, she accompanies with a spirit of excellence various endeavours from conception to creation.

AGOBAY Team

Palma Manco
Zurich

Our Zurich showroom host introduces you to our collection with all the enthusiasm of an avowed lover of handcrafted masterpieces.

AGOBAY Team

Lisa Murkudis
Berlin

With an exquisite and subtle touch, our gracious editor brings our journal to life, weaving stories that inspire us and hold a special place in our hearts.

AGOBAY Team

Olivia Sasse
Zurich

A perceptive and curious filmmaker, adept at capturing delicate nuances that weave beautiful tales for discerning eyes.

AGOBAY Team

Saskia Schick
Zurich

Our expert project coordinator, known for her keen attention to detail, injects energy and a sense of ease into our endeavours.

AGOBAY Team

Celia Uribe
Zurich

Our radiant host welcomes you with a warm smile at our Zurich café and store, attuned to your unspoken wishes.

Writers

Ben Davis
Tokyo

A Japanese-speaking writer with a longstanding interest in craftsmanship and sustainability, whose stories share depth and insights.

Writers

Danielle Demetriou
Kyoto

Our Kyoto-based writer, with British and Greek roots, passionately delves beneath the surface to create stories of depth and poetry.

Writers

Katherine Kennard
Auckland

The voice that accompanies your discovery of artisans and places, replete with elegance, warmth and a sense of serenity.

Writers

Anna Dorothea Ker
Auckland

A worldly design and travel journalist with refined senses that capture the nuances making a place, an encounter, a story what it truly is.

Writers

Ulf Lippitz
Berlin

A well-travelled journalist with a keen interest in culture and all that enriches life, always with the right questions at hand.

Writers

Soraia Martins
Lisbon

A storyteller who captures the desires, dreams and essence of anyone she speaks to with intelligence and sensitivity.

Writers

Rebeca Vaisman
Barcelona

A journalist originally from Peru, who instinctively captures the essence of her surroundings and expresses it with great sensitivity.

Writers

Abbie Vora
Berlin

The Australian-born writer is dedicated to crafting beautifully woven narratives that foster a profound sense of resonance.

Photographers & Filmmakers

Bruno Augsburger
Ardez & Zurich

An adventurer whose lens captures nature in its dramatic aesthetics, creating beautiful shots with a cinematic flair.

Photographers & Filmmakers

João Pedro Plácido
Lisbon

An international cinematographer whose trained and sensitive eye captures details as much as atmospheres and stolen moments.

Photographers & Filmmakers

Clemens Poloczek
Berlin

A gifted filmmaker with a contemporary, artistic aesthetic that chimes with our sense of authenticity, emotion and warm elegance.

Photographers & Filmmakers

Nico Schaerer
Zurich

A world traveller who masterfully captures the beauty of nature, people and places with light-heartedness and depth at once.

Photographers & Filmmakers

Matilde Travassos
Lisbon

A passionate individual who captures the beauty of a moment or the essence of connection with an enchanting sense of wonder.

Photographers & Filmmakers

Zissou
Bali

Living amid the lush Balinese jungle, he finds the tranquillity and inspiration he pours into his exquisite photography.