Born and raised in Tokyo, designer and crafter Yumi Kato now lives in Barcelona. Her mother was a dressmaker, and she grew up surrounded by fabrics. Drawing on her background in fashion and textile design, Kato uses the techniques of sewing—considered “domestic,” and hence not valuable—to create her artworks. She specializes in textile jewelry, repurposing silk from used Japanese kimonos, known worldwide for their high-quality craftsmanship and original design. After selecting and cleaning the silk, she takes advantage of its original colors and patterns to convert it into wearable art, giving it new life when mixed with occidental fashions. All of Kato’s works are either partially or totally hand sewn.
