Sacai: the Japanese brand that combines style with function

Founded in 1999 by Japanese designer Chitose Abe, Sacai (pronounced Sah-Kah-Ee) quickly became one of the best loved brands on the global fashion scene. The concept came to Abe while she was on maternity leave with her young daughter, wearing a combination of simple pieces like chinos, T-shirts, and sweaters. This uninspired yet practical wardrobe caused Abe to consider the new, more exciting options that could exist without losing their functionality. And so, Sacai was born.

Fashion ran in Abe’s blood, as her seamstress mother had taught her to sew and make clothes for her dolls from a young age. Before launching her own luxury brand, Abe worked with Comme Des Garcons and Junya Watanabe. Now, Sacai is rivalling these Japanese fashion stalwarts. Since 2016, the brand has collaborated with the likes of Nike, The North Face, and Apple.

Sacai developed a unique style

Sacai’s signature style is combined pieces, like a skirt and jacket or shirt and trousers, that fuse while remaining two distinct pieces. The look is so distinctly Sacai that, for those in the know, you’d just have to see one of Abe’s pieces to know it was hers. Nobody else in the fashion game is doing it like her.

The brand began with a collection of knitwear, inspired by Abe’s own style. Influenced by the avant garde, she has described her youthful style as being upsetting to her mother, but she prioritised her way of expressing herself over everything. To this day, a streak of teenage rebellion can be glimpsed throughout Sacai’s collections.

It wasn’t until 10 years later, in 2009, that Sacai opened its first store in Paris. The brick and mortar site was a response to big names like Barney’s opening accounts with the brand. Two years later in 2011, Sacai hit its first runway in Paris Fashion Week.

The successes keep coming

Now, Sacai has over 175 global retail partnerships, and the brand collaborations just keep coming. The likes of UGG, Vans, and Birkenstock have all worked with Sacai, producing lines that take inspiration from Abe’s ‘hybridised’ style.

More recently, Sacai has collaborated with street artist KAWS and Nike on a pair of Nike Blazer Lows in ‘Reed’ colour way. A more pared back partnership with Nike came in the form of the Sacai x Vaporwaffle in Black Gum and Sail Gum (or just black and white, to the less fashion fluent among us). So whether you’re new to Sacai or looking for a classic brand to fill your wardrobe with, you can’t go wrong with this Japanese icon.