A Day in our Life
We usually start our day with a latte—because, honestly, we can’t imagine starting it any other way. That first dose of caffeine gives us the energy and motivation we need to tackle everything ahead.
Once we're both in the studio, we sit down and plan the day. We review our priorities, organize upcoming tasks, discuss social media content (something we're still learning to navigate!), and figure out the best ways to promote our brand. We're very methodical when it comes to scheduling and organization, making sure everything is carefully planned and prioritized.
When a new garment is in development, we begin by drafting patterns, developing prints, and selecting fabrics. Every design starts as an idea that gradually takes shape through experimentation, research, and countless sketches.
From there, we create a prototype to test the design, fit, and overall construction. Sometimes adjustments are needed, and on rare occasions we even make a second prototype. Although it can be a lengthy process, it ensures that every piece fits and functions exactly as intended.
Once we're happy with the design, the final fabric is carefully cut and prepared for sewing. This is the stage where the real magic happens. Watching flat pieces of fabric slowly transform into a wearable garment is one of the most rewarding parts of the process. With every seam and every detail, the design comes to life in our hands.
Seeing the finished piece for the first time never gets old. After hours of planning, designing, cutting, and sewing, holding the final garment is incredibly satisfying. It's the moment when an idea becomes reality—and when we get to share a little piece of our world with yours.
(Bernardo finishing our Mokumoku Ren Haori)
In the middle of all this, we also spend a lot of time documenting our work. We love filming different stages of the process to share on social media and other platforms, giving people a glimpse behind the scenes. From early sketches and work-in-progress shots to sneak peeks of upcoming pieces and the final garment in motion, we enjoy sharing the journey as much as the finished result.
If we're being honest, social media is probably our Achilles' heel. As fashion designers, creating comes naturally; promoting ourselves is something we're still learning every day. Even so, we always do our best to present something beautiful and meaningful to the people who follow and support our work.
Of course, not every day is spent sewing or developing new garments. While preparing a collection is one side of the brand, another equally important side happens behind the scenes. Many days are dedicated to brainstorming ideas, managing the website, researching new techniques, developing future collections, exploring product ideas, and finding ways to reach more people who might connect with our work.
Since Akai Ito is run entirely by the two of us, multitasking has become second nature. On any given day, we might find ourselves designing, photographing products, answering emails, updating the website, creating content, packaging orders, or sketching ideas for the next collection—all within a few hours.
Not every day is easy, and not every task is as exciting as bringing a new garment to life. There are stressful days, unexpected challenges, and moments when things don't go according to plan. But every obstacle is part of the journey, and each one brings us a little closer to the dream we're building together.
We hope you've enjoyed this small glimpse into our world and the work that goes into Akai Ito. There are many more stories, projects, and creative adventures we'd love to share with you, so stay tuned and keep following along as we continue this journey—one garment, one idea, and one story at a time.
