Sartoria Cresent is a bespoke tailoring house in Milan, meticulously run by Satoki Kawai. Satoki is dedicated to preserving the classic Milanese style while infusing it with Japanese attention to detail and his own unique twist, born from his profound understanding of Milanese tailoring heritage and the city’s timeless elegance. Satoki’s suits embody sharp lines, exuding a tasteful masculinity and sophisticated expression. The unconstructed shoulder, delicately shaped like a concave saddle, whispers the essence of Milanese elegance, stripping away all unnecessary embellishments. Another defining feature of Sartoria Cresent’s style is the absence of the front darts, a technique passed down from previous generations of tailors, ensuring a clean and uninterrupted front pattern.
How long does it take for a dream to become a reality? For Satoki Kawai, who dreamt of being a tailor since the tender age of 8, the journey was far from smooth. In 1986, a then 8-year-old Satoki watched a captivating documentary on his Osaka home’s local TV program, which introduced the art of tailoring. Instantly mesmerised by the idea of crafting the perfect suit that would both satisfy the client and be one-of-a-kind, Satoki’s passion was ignited. As he grew older, his fascination with suits and jacket tailoring only intensified whenever he spotted them on the streets or within the pages of magazines. At 17, he confided in his civil servant father about his desire to become a tailor, but his father encouraged him to pursue a university education instead. Driven by a deep admiration for English gentleman style, Satoki enrolled at Osaka University, majoring in British culture. Despite his academic pursuits, Satoki had yet to grasp the proper technique of holding a needle. In contrast, many Italian tailors, particularly from the older generation, often embarked on their apprenticeships during their teenage years, viewing tailoring as a means to earn a living. It appears that Satoki’s decision to attend University delayed the pursuit of his dream to become a tailor. However, it’s the detour that imparts Sartoria Cresent its unique style. After honing his skills under the guidance of Milanese tailor Enrico Colombo and the illustrious Milanese house A. Caraceni, Satoki Kawai finally established Sartoria Cresent in Milan a decade ago.
