Ever since its establishment, there is an technique that has appeared in every ANREALAGE collection: it is dubbed “Maki-san Patchwork”. ANREALAGE’s creations are showcased at the Paris Collection and they are eye-catching productions that make use of the latest digital technology, but the brand’s core identity is contained in this patchwork that is carefully stitched together by skilled craftsmen. Shortly after the brand was launched, its designer, Kunihiko Morinaga, was working part-time, collecting scraps that were thrown away every day and sewing them together. In the world of fashion, where various ideas are intricately intertwined, Morinaga thought that by connecting them, he could realize a future without boundaries.

These days the patchworks are produced by a dedicated team, but for several seasons after its debut, one young man was responsible for the entire production process. That person is “Maki-san,” who has been a close friend of Morinaga since junior high school. In an atelier dedicated to patchwork, with banging hardcore music playing in the background, he gingerly treads on the sewing machine, saying, “I’m not very particular about the way I make things.” The appearance has a mysterious charm combined with a unique character. The many scraps that Maki has sewn together represent the history that the brand has cultivated so far; the important connection with the people who have been involved; and proof of his love for clothes. By paying close attention to the patchworks in the collection, it is possible to discern the spirit that underpins the brand.