Stitch the Vision, Interlace Diverse Perspectives
Expanding the Possibilities of Artisanship
JunAle is a creative artisanal studio led by sashiko artist Jun Sugimae, dedicated to redefining the boundary between traditional craft and contemporary product design. Since beginning his sashiko practice in 2014, Sugimae has pursued a vision of
reconstructing centuries-old techniques through a modern lens connecting contrasting realms to generate new forms of value.
Sashiko, a method of stitching that binds, strengthens, and extends the life of an object, holds the ability to unite opposing elements through a single thread: past and present, natural and synthetic fibers, handcraft and technology.
At JunAle, natural dyes such as indigo and persimmon tannin are used to color threads, fabrics, and even sneakers themselves embracing the evolving character of the material as part of each piece’s narrative. Through this process, traditional craftsmanship is expanded into new territories and given renewed potential for the future.
From SASHIKOSNEAKER™ to everyday garments and one-of-a-kind art pieces, JunAle’s work is grounded in the beauty of imperfection and the cyclical ethos embodied in boro and wabi-sabi, continuously presenting a new vision of what an artisan can be in the modern world.
JunAle は、刺し子アーティスト杉前潤が主宰する、クラフトとプロダクトの境界を更新するクリエイティブ・アーティザナル・スタジオです。
2014年に刺し子の制作を始めて以来、伝統技法を現代的に再構築し、異なる領域同士をつなぐことで新しい価値を生み出すことを核としています。
刺し子は、糸によって対象をつなぎ、補い、長く存在させる技法。過去と現在、天然繊維と化学繊維、手仕事とテクノロジーなど、相反する要素を一つの線で結ぶ力を持っています。
さらに JunAle では、藍や柿渋などの天然染料を用いて素材そのものを染め、作品に取り込むことで、伝統に新しい領域と未来への可能性を与えています。
その実践は SASHIKOSNEAKER™ をはじめ、日常着からアートピースにまで広がり、襤褸や侘び寂びが体現する「不完全さの美」と「循環の思想」を背景に、アルチザンの新しい姿を世界へ提示し続けています。
What is SASHIKOSNEAKER™
SASHIKOSNEAKER™ is born from profound knowledge accumulated through years of studying countless pieces of vintage boro, each fragment carrying traces of time, memory, and cultural heritage. From this patient research and an unwavering dedication to hand-stitching, a distinctive creative language emerges.
Every material is carefully dismantled to reveal its hidden character, and each thread is individually dyed—often through slow, natural processes—allowing color and texture to evolve with the rhythm of nature. The components are then reassembled under conditions that are intentionally varied and responsive to the moment, so that no two pairs can ever be repeated.
Through this deliberate cycle of deconstruction and rebirth, SASHIKOSNEAKER™ becomes more than footwear: it is a living artifact where tradition and innovation, past and future, are permanently interwoven.
SASHIKOSNEAKER™ は、無数の襤褸（ぼろ）を収集し、その一枚一枚に刻まれた歴史や風合いを丹念に読み解くことで培った深い知識、そして揺るぎない手縫いの技術から生み出されます。
素材はただ用いるのではなく、まず一度解体され、そこに宿る記憶や表情を見極めながら一本一本の糸を染め上げ、気温や湿度、時間などその時だけの条件を見極めて再び形へと昇華させます。
その結果、同じものは二度と現れない唯一無二の一足が完成し、過去と未来、伝統と革新が一体となった特別な存在となるのです。
About JunAle
JUN SUGIMAE
1983年、大阪府生まれ。
服飾学校でテーラリングを学んだ後、ロンドンでブランドアシスタントや舞台衣装制作など多彩な現場に身を置く。2006年に帰国し、スポーツウェアのデザイナーとしてキャリアを歩み始める。
最先端の素材や機能性に触れる日々の中で、「昔から続く手仕事にも同じくらいの力があるのではないか」という興味が芽生え、それが後の創作へとつながっていく。
2014年、数百年受け継がれてきた刺し子の技法に出会い、自身の表現として深めていく。スニーカーやマウンテンパーカーなど現代のプロダクトに、針と糸だけで補修と装飾を施すことで、伝統技術に新しい役割と領域を与えることを目指している。
藍染や柿渋染めなど天然染料による染色も自ら行い、糸や布だけでなくスニーカーそのものにまで染めを施すことで、「素材が変化していくこと」そのものを作品の物語として取り込む。
伝統に根ざしながらも、常に現代と未来に接続する視点を持ち続け、刺し子の可能性を拡張し続けている。
Born in Osaka Prefecture in 1983.
Born in Osaka in 1983, Jun Sugimae first studied tailoring before moving to London, where he worked across brand assistance, stage costume production, and various creative environments. After returning to Japan in 2006, he began his career as a sportswear designer.
Working closely with advanced materials and performance technologies gradually led him to wonder whether the power of traditional, time-honored techniques could coexist—and even resonate—with the innovations of modern manufacturing. That question became a turning point in his creative path.
In 2014, Sugimae encountered the centuries-old craft of sashiko and began developing it as his own method of expression. By applying hand stitching—using only needle and thread—to contemporary items like sneakers and technical outerwear, he seeks to expand the role of traditional techniques and open new territories between craft and product.
He also practices natural dyeing with indigo and persimmon tannin, dyeing not only sashiko threads but sometimes the sneakers themselves, incorporating the evolving character of the material into the narrative of the work.
Rooted in tradition yet always reconstructed through a contemporary outlook, his practice continues to explore how sashiko can evolve and speak to the future.
SOLO EXHIBITION
2021 SASHIKO HAKIMONO -履物と刺し子-』at 岩倉AA , Kyoto, JP
2021/ 12 10-19 SASU大阪 at Table
2022 04 4-24 SASU東京 at Sarugakugarou 221010 hankyu
2023 SASU at Colony clothing , Singapore
2023 05.31-06.13 OAD
2024 05.29-06.25 OAD
取材歴、掲載歴
2020 MARZEL
2020 Télérama
2021 Neocha
2023 NHK WORLD JAPAN
Bespoke Sashiko Sneaker
JA-SN-106 NKAWT-29
Crafted in 2020
JunAle reimagines the timeless craft of sashiko through a contemporary lens, creating bespoke sneakers that transcend mere functionality to become wearable works of art. Each delicate stitch, crafted by hand, carries the weight of history and the soul of the maker. Designed to tell your unique story, these one-of-a-kind sneakers are a true expression of individuality.
Elevate your everyday with a pair imbued with artistry and intention. Let us bring your vision to life with a custom-made design that’s as distinctive as you are. Contact us today to begin your journey.
JunAleは、刺し子の伝統技術を現代的な表現で再構築し、ビスポークスニーカーを制作しています。針と糸で紡がれる繊細なステッチは、単なる装飾ではなく、歴史と想いを宿したアートピースそのものです。あなただけの物語を反映したデザインで、世界に一つだけのスニーカーをお届けします。
まずはご相談ください。