The Beginning
Yūrei Threads was born in the quiet hours between night and dawn, when the veil between worlds grows thin. Founded in 2020 in Tokyo's Harajuku district, our brand emerged from a deep fascination with Japanese folklore and the haunting beauty of traditional dress.
Our founder, having spent years studying textile arts in Kyoto and contemporary design in New York, saw an opportunity to bridge two worlds that seemed impossibly distant. The ethereal grace of the yūrei, spirits caught between life and death, became our guiding metaphor.
The Philosophy
Like the yūrei who drift in flowing white kimono, unbound by convention, we believe fashion should transcend rigid categories. Our pieces blend the clean lines and layered construction of traditional Japanese garments with the functionality demanded by modern urban life.
We embrace kintsugi, the art of repairing broken pottery with gold, as more than aesthetic inspiration. Each garment carries golden accents that celebrate imperfection, the seams and breaks that make something whole. In a world obsessed with flawless production, we find beauty in the cracks.
The Craft
Every piece begins in our Tokyo atelier, where traditional Japanese tailoring techniques meet contemporary design. We work with artisans who have spent decades perfecting their craft, many trained in methods passed down through generations.
Our fabrics are sourced from historic textile mills in Kyoto and Nishijin, regions known for over 1,200 years of weaving excellence. Each material is chosen not just for its quality, but for its story and its connection to Japanese textile heritage.
Moving Forward
Yūrei Threads exists in the liminal space, honoring what came before while creating something entirely new. We are neither strictly traditional nor purely contemporary. Like our namesake spirits, we drift between worlds, collecting the best of both.
Our goal has never been to recreate the past or predict the future. Instead, we serve as the golden thread connecting them, much like kintsugi joins broken fragments into something more beautiful than the original.