Enjoy in a tranquil salon
The beauty of haute couture stoles

Vinitique, a haute couture stole made from hard-to-find antique lace and the highest quality silk and velvet, is currently a hot topic among fashion connoisseurs and discerning people. This masterpiece is produced by Mika Seguchi, who has an eye for authenticity and excellent taste.

Vinitique's salon, which handles haute couture stoles, is located in a room in a vintage mansion in Harajuku, Tokyo. Le Corbusier's white sofa is placed in a quiet place isolated from the hustle and bustle outside, creating a relaxing atmosphere reminiscent of visiting a friend's house.

While my eyes were drawn to the lace on the stole displayed on the shoulders of her torso, Seguchi opened the closet with a smile and asked me to take a closer look. Many stoles are hung in different colors, such as white, black, and antique pink, making you instantly feel like you've entered a romantic otherworld. It's fun to hold each stole in your hands and listen to the history and stories behind the lace and silk used. There are always more than 50 stoles, dresses, and accessories available, so you can purchase them on the spot, but you can also have your stoles made to order. Mika Seguchi, who is also the owner of the salon, is in charge of the design.

to European races
japanese silk
I want to protect beautiful materials that are being lost.

``It's my pleasure to discover such wonderful materials as lace from Italy and France, linen from Yamanashi, velvet from Fukui, and silk from Kanazawa.'' However, most of these materials are rare and difficult to obtain these days. ``For example, silk lace feels wonderful against the skin, but it's also very delicate.Nowadays, nylon and cotton lace are often used, which are easy to handle and care for. I try to buy everything I can, because often when I run out, that's it."

We are confident that we only select the rarest and finest materials such as silk, linen, and velvet made in Japan. For example, people have the impression that velvet is better in Europe, but that is definitely not the case. ``I've looked at German and Italian velvet, but I think Japanese velvet is definitely the best material for supple stoles and dresses.When I show it to French people, they all say it's good.But... The current situation is such that low costs are required, and products that use chemical fibers are required to be durable, making it difficult for craftsmen who make really good products to go out of business. I think it's an unfortunate situation that we're in."

The beginning of making a stole
Found in Bordeaux
From real richness

It was in 2006 that she opened an atelier in Bordeaux, France and began making stoles. ``Before I went to Bordeaux, I was helping my husband with his work in Tokyo.I wanted to live abroad someday, so I went to many places, and the one I liked was Bordeaux.Bordeaux has been a wine trade area for a long time. It's a prosperous city, with many elegant buildings and a rich natural environment.As it's in the south, the climate is nice and the people are nice.I fell in love with Bordeaux and spent about 10 years there.

In Bordeaux, she had many opportunities to attend parties, and wearing dresses was one of her pleasures. Although there weren't many of them, there were times when I bought them because I was attracted to their fabrics and craftsmanship, and even got rid of the party dresses I had worn for many years. The lace and beads used are still beautiful, but I can't bear to throw them away. I wanted to keep it in my hands somehow, so I decided to turn it into a stall.

Seguchi did not study fashion specifically. However, she has loved fashion since she was young, reading fashion magazines to the hilt and wearing high-end brand clothes. She enjoyed following trends and wearing the latest fashion. However, after she started living in Bordeaux, her thoughts changed. ``Bordeaux has a strong tradition and is unshakable.When I look at the people who live there, I find that each person has a different personality, and everyone has a different interpretation.I think the coolest style is one that reflects your own way of life and way of thinking. I think it was good for me to go to Bordeaux instead of Paris.” The accumulation of such experiences must have cultivated Seguchi's aesthetic eye and sense. In 2014, she opened her current salon in Jingumae and took off in earnest in Tokyo. Her name recognition and popularity in Japan has increased year by year, and now fashion connoisseurs from all over the world, including celebrities, visit her salon every day.

A job with pride
The future of manufacturing
Believe that it will open up

A collaboration piece with Diane Kreis, a world-famous collector and connoisseur of antique lace who lives in Nagano, is also scheduled to be announced soon. ``Last year, I saw Diane's exhibition at the Shoto Museum of Art and was moved by it, and it was a great opportunity for me.As a Japanese person, I will begin a project to bring antique lace back into the modern world.'' The stole, decorated with divinely delicate antique lace, has an impact that makes you realize it's something special at first glance.

My dream from now on is to be of some help to the people around me. ``It is thanks to the craftsmen that we are able to make stalls now.I just happen to be standing in front of the table.So, I hope that the craftsmen can continue their work, and more importantly, I want to prevent them from getting exhausted from chasing profits.'' Nothing makes me happier than being able to do work that they feel proud of and that they want to do as a craftsman, rather than a boring job. When that happens, I feel happy. If everyone feels happy, I'm happy too. In that sense, I want to grow this work."

(Titles omitted)

VINITIQUE VINITIQUE
Coop Olympia 6F, 35-3-7 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
03-6427-4074
e-mail: mica@vinitique.net
Salon requires reservation only
Please inquire about open day dates, which do not require reservations.
http://www.vinitique.net/