Sacai

At the age of 11, Chitose Abe was inspired to pursue a career in fashion design after seeing Issey Miyake in a TV commercial. She later studied fashion in her hometown, Nagoya, and went on to work as a pattern designer for Comme des Garçons, a pioneer in avant-garde fashion, for eight years. During this time, she collaborated on Junya Watanabe's personal label with fellow designer Junichi Abe (the founder of Kolor), whom she later married. After her marriage, Chitose took a break from her career to focus on raising her child. However, with her husband's encouragement, she eventually began working on her own brand, Sacai.

Starting with just five knit pieces, Sacai quickly sold out at the renowned Japanese store Beams, gaining recognition from buyers and the press without any traditional media promotion. Despite the brand's rapid growth, Chitose Abe has always been guided by the concept of 'hybrid.' Sacai is known for its innovative technique of layering materials with varying textures, deconstructing garments, and combining them into a single piece. The brand's collaborations have extended beyond fashion to partnerships with companies like Nike, Dr. Martens, Mercedes AMG, and KAWS.

Abe's unique approach to combining silhouettes, materials, and diverse collaborations continues to define Sacai. Her vision of creating something different has not only sustained but strengthened Sacai's values over time, building an archive that keeps audiences eager for each new season's designs.