Pierre VAUVYDirector of the General Affairs Department at Okayama Kōgei

It was first through his passion for Japanese culture and traditional craftsmanship that Pierre Vauvy settled in Japan more than 20 years ago. Through his work at Okayama-Kōgei, he specialized in the technique of Kyo-Yuzen, a hand-dyeing method for kimono fabrics developed in 17th-century Kyoto, where the workshop founded by Takako Okayama in 1968 is still based today.

Recognized in 1994 by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as the first woman certified as a traditional craftswoman in the field of Kyo-Yuzen, Takako Okayama developed the dreamlike creations for which Okayama-Kōgei is now renowned both in Japan and internationally, particularly in France. The atelier’s work is distinguished by its soft and subtle color palettes, exemplified by the kimono “YUME,” which today embodies both the brand and the transmission of this textile heritage.