First impression of a Tomii creation is that it's a pretty bike, but don’t leave it at that and walk away. Stop and take a closer look. The paint is not just fun, it’s well done.

 
The rack is custom made for the bike. The seat bridge is a tasteful bit of sculpture, or jewelry maybe. If you are lucky, you might even get one of his inlaid stem caps as well.

It doesn’t stop there. The real detail is this bike will fit. It is not prêt a porter, it’s couture. Tomii offers custom geometry or stock models, and one way or the other the bike will fit.

Nao Tomii (tow-me) studied art in Boston, graduated, and worked 12 years as a sculptor. There is an age-old debate about form following function. One approach to frame building eschews aesthetics, focusing entirely on function. 

Tomii has a different approach. In pursuance of function he creates his own aesthetic, starting with a plan for a sculpture. Within this artistic vision, he includes a highly functional bicycle.

 
It is truly a work of art, but don’t be fooled: underneath all of that beauty is a very real bicycle. That’s fully fit for purpose.



Tomii works in steel using a combination of TIG welding and brazing, fluidly using both techniques to the best advantage. He hand pierces and cuts his sculpted seat bridges. He has even carried his cactus motif into custom designed tires, made in collaboration with Japanese components maker Sim Works. When not making bikes, he is making bike jewelry. His bells are a fine example of repoussé. 



A casual look would reveal a dimpled bell. The reality is each dimple is a hammer stroke. The first strike is easy, but the multiple strokes to finish the bell are not. Each hammer strike must be carefully placed and you can only hit once. If this is the care he puts into a bell, imagine what he puts into a bicycle.



So, are you buying a bike or a piece of art? You don’t have to choose. With Tomii you get both.