Along a quiet open corridor within the palace grounds, the whisper of priceless silk over wooden floors follows a lady of the ancient capital. Dressed in layers of soft robes perfectly placed by skillful hands, she is the epitome of elegance and poise. Expressing seasonal and auspicious themes through nuanced color gradients, this elegant style of clothing has been preserved for over a thousand years.

HITOE is named for the jūnihitoe, a formal court garment from Japan’s history made up of many layers of wide-sleeved kimono. Inspired by the collar lines carefully arranged to show the colorful edges of each robe, the sides of the HITOE ring band appear to gently overlap in the center. Just as the splendid layers of a jūnihitoe convey beauty through a combination of colors, HITOE embodies the belief that the newly married couple’s lives will be enriched through their union.