Purple Magazine
— Purple #43 S/S 2025
The Tokyo Diary Issue

why japan?

In the ’80s and ’90s, Japan profoundly influenced many areas, especially fashion. The use of black, the precision, the cuts — it was transformative. In the early 2000s, I finally visited Tokyo and Kyoto. The civic sense, the obscene perfectionism, and the unbound creativity were a cultural shock. The cheeky coexistence of past and present challenged me, raising questions about how to define the future — and why? From what angle? I felt irresistibly drawn to the culture, yet intimidated by its depth. A new perspective overwhelmed my senses and has stayed with me ever since. The level of sophistication is unmatched, almost surreal. The dreamlike clashes with reality in a way that exists nowhere else. In Japan, my work is not just a job but a true métier. Respect is elevated to the highest levels, and for good reasons: craft, quality, relevance, innovation, identity, and individuality. In the mid-2000s, I interviewed many students and teachers from the Bunka Fashion College in Tokyo. Working with Japanese pattern-drafters was the best school I could ever wish for. Japanese designers are my idols and masters. For me, as for them, the relationship between fabric and shape is fundamental to design. Research is vital — not just in experimenting but also in exploring within oneself to grow and achieve. Japan continues to be one of my favorite places on Earth.

— stefano pilati

[Table of contents]

Purple #43 S/S 2025 The Tokyo Diary Issue

Table of contents

© Purple Institute

Subscribe to our newsletter