From pared-down jewelry to luxurious knits, we’ve gathered five Japanese names from PROJECT’s roster whose designs, ideas, and M.O.s are worth knowing. Click through for a slideshow to get to know them better.
Text by
Emily Singer
From pared-down jewelry to luxurious knits, we’ve gathered five Japanese names from PROJECT’s roster whose designs, ideas, and M.O.s are worth knowing. Click through for a slideshow to get to know them better.
STOF
Founded in 2004, STOF is all about doing something new. Unexpected silhouettes, innovative layers, and seemingly unisex items are admittedly not the most wearable, but STOF acknowledges and embraces the fact that that which is not familiar receives backlash.
(Image courtesy of STOF)
STOF
This season’s line was inspired by…
Anti-war, John Lennon, and Ghandi.
The STOF wearer is…
Someone who embraces every new day with a sense of humor and compassion.
—Hiroshi Tanida, designer
(Image courtesy of STOF)
ACE by Morizane
Handsome and rustic-but-delicate jewelry in antique silvers, sterlings, and brass, ACE by Morizane accessories speak for themselves. Though minimal, their pieces are intended to be stacked, complementing and enhancing the wearer’s existing look.
ACE is inspired by…
The American west coast, especially the Mojave Desert and Palm Springs.
The jewelry is…
Completed by the wearer. The same thing as wearing a rigid denim. I want the person who wears ACE jewelry to complete it the way they want.
—Yuki Morizane, designer
(Image courtesy of ACE by Morizane)
O.K.
Founded in 2014, O.K. makes clothing based on a formula that merges a basic item, a fresh idea, and hard work.
(Image courtesy of O.K.)
O.K.
Japanese style is…
Thinking a lot of various ideas.
—Koji Takahashi, designer
(Image courtesy of O.K.)
Meanswhile
Viewing clothing not just as costume, but also as a tool, Meanswhile makes goods that are a means to an end. Designed with a specific functionality in mind, Meanswhile’s wares return clothing to its original, intended purpose of being purely functional. Yet through such functionality stems style.
(Image courtesy of Meanswhile)
Meanswhile
Japanese style is…
A free style formed by Japan’s unique lifestyle, which crosses the barriers of social class. We have few restrictions on what we wear set by external factors, so I think new things are created organically from rough combinations.
Meanswhile makes…
Tools for wearers in that moment. When I make clothes I base them on my own lifestyle. I think hard about what the details are for, but I leave blank spaces so I would be happy if the wearer interprets them in his own way.
—Naohiro Fujisaki, designer
(Image courtesy of Meanswhile)
Insonnia
Working with high-quality, haute couture yarns, Insonnia spins jersey and knitwear into everyday clothing. Named for the Italian word for sleeplessness and obsession, Insonnia applies painstaking craftsmanship to offer a new perspective on knitwear.
(Image courtesy of Insonnia)
Insonnia
Japanese style is…
High quality items with a mix of techniques and styles.
Insonnia makes…
Knitwear people enjoy wearing, with craftsmanship they can feel.
—Insonnia
(Image courtesy of Insonnia)