Chitose Abe

Having spent her early childhood dressing and creating clothes for her myriad of dolls, Chitose Abe considered fashion design to be her calling at the youthful age of 11. Schooled under the likes of Rei Kawakubo as a pattern cutter for COMME des GARCONS as well as a member of Junya Watanabe’s design team, the Japanese native opted to start her own line, sacai, in 1998. Her ability to daringly walk the lines of gender whilst playfully incorporating unique patterns and fabrics that are developed in-house have helped her earn the praise of both Anna Wintour and Karl Lagerfeld among many others. Now at the forefront of contemporary designers, 2014 saw Abe step into the realm of streetwear, collaborating with Vans, Porter, and Clarks as well as pairing with Lane Crawford on a special capsule collection. Nearing 50 years old and with her brand in more international shops than ever before, we’re excited to see what Abe has in store for 2015.