Meet Tsuyoshi Kawata, the Japanese Artist Curating Hand-stitched Vintage Clothing
Mastering the art of repair.
The latest designer/artist on our radar is Japan-based Tsuyohsi “Yushy” Kawata. Through his label Studio Gin, Yushy focuses on hand-drawing artwork and integrating the designs on vintage pieces through patching and sashiko embroidery, which he does all by hand.
The vintage collections are carefully sourced in Japan and combined with vintage fabrics including Japanese apron. Yushy started out by repairing his own clothing to make them more unique, which eventually expanded to doing commissions for friends and family.
In 2022, Yushy launched Studio Gin to accommodate orders domestically and overseas.
Self-taught in practice, Yushy collaborated with Nudie Jeans for ‘Perfected by Tsuyoshi,’ an exhibit that was shown in Los Angeles at the Amsterdam Denim Days Festival and Complex Con.
“I’ve never been to fashion school,” Yushy says. “I’ve learned how to do everything on my own, so I think I’m an artist more than a designer. I hope everyone sees my pieces as artwork, and not just clothes.”
To shop his latest pieces, you can visit Studio Gin here.