Origins and Originals

Launching the Moleskine Asian Collection 2023. Linking the three neighbouring countries of China, Japan, and South Korea, this collection not only embraces our abundance of creative energy, but also unearths the deepest Eastern traditions and philosophies through a showcase of contemporary Asian visions.

We are honoured to present Kosuke Tsumura from Tokyo, Minju Kim from Seoul, and Angel Chen from Shanghai in collaboration with Moleskine.

Angel Chen

“I wish to bring our aesthetics to more and more people. I would like to enlarge our product range so people can let the creativity flow when doing mix & match with our pieces. I have too many dreams! One is to support some talented textile designers to develop their fabrics.”

Angel Chen is a Shanghai-based designer whose colourful approach to fashion and fusion of Eastern and Western aesthetics has made her one of the China’s brightest young talents. In 2014, she launched the ANGEL CHEN label and made the Forbes China “under 30” shortlist in 2016. Having shown at London, Milan, New York and Shanghai fashion weeks, Angel is part of a new wave of young Chinese designers making an impact locally and globally.

Minju Kim

“I’ve always worked really hard on every element of my collections, from developing the concept to designing prints and ultimately bringing it all to life. I put my heart and soul into my work and that’s what I’m going to continue doing.”

Minju Kim is fast becoming a creative force to be reckoned with. In 2020, the South Korean designer was named the winner of Netflix’s reality show and fashion designer competition, Next in Fashion. Kim was previously the winner of the 2013 H&M Design Award and was shortlisted for the LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers in 2014. She is known for her unique imaginative style, combining bold silhouettes with feminine characteristics and an overarching theme of joyfulness.

Kosuke Tsumura

“I try to design fashion that works in many situations. Whether it’s blooming in a tree, dancing in the wind, or falling down, I put my thoughts on the beautiful cherry blossoms and designed this Notebook with the image of a story written in petals on the seasonal page.”

In 1994, after a decade of working with Issey Miyake Design Studio – the top designer in Japan – Kosuke Tsumura presented his first personal collection in Paris, London, and Tokyo. His Final Home suit is inspired by homelessness and represents a vision of outdoor urban life. Tsumura is currently a professor at Musashino Art University and a lecturer at Tokyo University of the Arts.