Pillings

Japanese label Pillings, founded by designer Ryota Murakami, is recognised for its distinctive approach to knitwear, craftsmanship, and the emotional value of making and wearing clothes. At the heart of the brand is a close dialogue between designer, artisan, material, and wearer, with each playing an essential role in the creative process.

The name Pillings refers to “pilling”—the small balls of fibre that naturally form on a well-worn garment. Rather than viewing this as a flaw, Murakami embraces it as a metaphor for the brand: a mark of time, friction, connection, and repeated use. It reflects his belief in creating clothes that are meant to be lived in, loved, and gradually shaped by the wearer, rather than consumed and discarded.

While knitwear remains central to Pillings, the brand’s approach to craft extends beyond traditional notions of technique and perfection. Murakami reinterprets familiar forms through unexpected proportions, sculptural textures, softness, and intentional irregularities, creating garments that feel at once intimate, playful, and refined.