The Rodin Coat
A Collaboration with Tatsuyasu Watanabe for Fuji Textile Week 2025
The Story
The Rodin Coat is a work of textile sculpture, created as a central piece for Fuji Textile Week 2025. The design concept draws inspiration from the visceral, raw "sculpture strokes" found in the works of Auguste Rodin, reimagined as a delicate, contemporary patchwork. To translate the feeling of clay being layered and molded by hand into a wearable form, the studio underwent an intensive period of research and tactile experimentation.
The result is a garment that mimics the physical act of sculpting, built layer by layer to create a rich, three-dimensional surface. While the inspiration is rooted in the strength of stone and clay, the construction was executed with a distinct femininity in mind—focusing on how the light catches the hand-stitched silk seams and how the technical Japanese paper-cloth moves with the body. Every element reflects a devotion to the slow process: it took two months of continuous making to bring this singular artifact from start to finish.
The Artistry of the Detail
Textile Architecture: A sophisticated composition of contemporary Japanese textiles, including 100% washed paper (Washi), Cupro, and Silk. These materials were chosen for their ability to hold form while maintaining a soft, organic hand-feel.
Sculptural Patchwork: The exterior is a complex arrangement of fabric "strokes," mimicking the way a sculptor adds clay to a bust. This entire patchwork surface is joined using entirely hand-stitched construction with 100% silk thread.
The Closure: Finished with handmade ceramic buttons, sculpted by the artist to serve as grounded, earthy anchors for the technical fabric.
The Interior: Finished with the same rigor as the exterior, ensuring the garment moves with a flexible, "living" seam that only hand-stitching can provide.
The Provenance: Fuji Textile Week
This piece was birthed from a deep immersion into the textile heritage of the Fuji region. By working alongside Watanabe Textile, the garment utilizes cutting-edge contemporary weaves that were then deconstructed and reimagined through traditional hand-work in the mountain studio.
Bringing it Home
As a focal piece of the 2025 collection, the Rodin Coat is a singular artifact. It is designed to be worn as a protective, artistic layer—a piece of "moving sculpture" for the wearer.
Materials: Washed Paper, Cupro, Silk, 100% Silk Thread, Hand-fired Ceramic.
Care: Given the delicate nature of the washed paper and hand-stitched silk seams, we recommend professional archival cleaning only.
The Investment (USD)
Due to the two-month production timeline and the rarity of the Watanabe collaboration textiles, the commission for the Rodin Coat is $3,800.
To Begin Your Commission
This piece is strictly limited by the availability of the collaboration textiles and the months-long labor involved. This archival garment is completed and ready to ship.[ RESERVE THIS PIECE - EMAIL ]