Japan, and more specifically its capital Tokyo , was undoubtedly the starting point of the Atelier St Eustache adventure. The brand's first collection bears its name, but do you know why? In this article, we will answer all your questions.
A year of study abroad ✈️
It was in this city that a personal journey first took shape, that of Violette.
The adventure began in 2013, when she decided to go and live in Tokyo for a year for her final year of architecture school. An experience that was as exotic as it was enriching.
Tokyo, a city with unique architecture ⛩️
Tokyo is a city known for the richness of its architecture . The city has suffered many destructive disasters and has had to be rebuilt several times. Today, a mixture of contemporary and traditional architecture coexists, which gives the city an unusual character.
For a year, Violette was able to study this very particular architecture which subsequently inspired her greatly.
Japan and the taste for beautiful things 🎎
Japan also introduced Violette to a new culture , both in terms of the way of life and the clothing habits of Japanese men and women. She also loved the taste that the country has for beautiful things and pretty objects.
There, she fell in love with a little accessory: the transparent sock . Japanese women showed off their socks from every angle by pairing them with sandals and open pumps . One day, she simply wanted to try it, on the advice of her friend and Anglo-Japanese illustrator Misaki , who wore them regularly.
Head full of ideas ✨
After this year full of discoveries, Violette returned to France with her head full of ideas. She wanted to create her own brand of transparent socks , convinced that French women would also be won over by this slightly unusual little accessory.
And to pay tribute to the city that transformed her life, she imagined her first creations under the sign of Japan.
Tokyo Collection by Atelier St Eustache 🧦
The first six designs of Atelier St Eustache transparent socks are therefore associated with buildings and districts of Tokyo . Each of the models bears the name and tells a little story.
ASAKUSA 🏯
This model reproduces the architecture of the Asakusa Cultural Center , a building built by a famous architect who was also one of Violette's professors at Japan's Todai University, Kengo Kuma.
GINZA 🏢
This design represents the Ginza district at night and its illuminated windows through which Violette returned home every evening by bike. A district of high buildings where one really feels very small.
NAKAMEGURO 🌸
This pair of socks is a tribute to the flight of cherry blossom petals on the Nakameguro canal . A magical and timeless moment when the time comes for the flowering of these mythical Sakuras .
SHIBUYA 🚶♀️
This sock represents the Shibuya pedestrian crossing and its famous diagonal, which saves passers-by from having to cross it twice. When the light turns green, the crowd movements have something very poetic, especially when it rains and the Japanese take out their multi-colored umbrellas.
SHINJUKU 💡
This model illustrates the Shinjuku district and the illuminated signs of the many shops located there. A very lively district, teeming with shops and overflowing with life.
TOKYO 🏙️
A pair of socks born at the crossroads between all these previous models. It brings together the patterns of each district (the surface, the checkerboard, the polka dot and the line) in a shape corresponding to the surface area of these famous districts.
There you have it, you know everything about the inspirations for the models in the Tokyo collection by Atelier St Eustache and the designer's homage to this magnificent city.
If Violette had to sum up her Japanese experience, she would tell you about the poetry of the country , the kindness of its inhabitants , and their taste for beautiful things.
And you, have you ever traveled to Japan? We have so much to learn by discovering new cultures! 🌏
