Arts & Science owner Sonya Park believes all good fashion is based on vintage workwear.
When Park, a Korean-born stylist, opened her first Arts & Science shop in Aoyoma Tokyo in 2003 (she now owns four stores in the Aoyoma neighborhood), she mingled vintage cotton and linen clothing with newer clothes; after noticing her customers gravitating toward the utilitarian vintage pieces, she introduced her own line based on those humble silhouettes (boxy jackets, workers tunics, and workers shirts) made from natural fabrics sourced in Japan. “When you have really beautiful fabrics, you do not have to do much. It’s like cooking. If you have really beautiful ingredients, half of the work is done," Park told Vogue last year.
Select pieces of the A&S collection are available at Creatures of Comfort in Los Angeles and New York; in Paris at Astier de Villatte, in Milan at 10 Corso Como, in London at the Dover Street Market, as well as directly at Arts & Science in Japan.
Above: The Mesh Bag by Dragon is made of goat leather in natural (shown), tan, dark brown and black.
Above: The silk Square Bottom Dress pulls tight at the waist in khaki (shown) and black.
Above: The Brush and Dustpan by Turner and Harper are made of walnut, hog bristle, and stainless steel. The Arts & Sciences Bloom Hook is available in white. The Brush and Dustpan are also available through Turner and Harper in the UK for £65.
Above: The linen and nylon Loose Rib Socks in bright orange (shown), off white, beige, and black.
Above: The natural linen Black Ribbon Tunic.
Above: The Mad Et Len scented soy wax candle is available in sacred incense, black pepper, tobacco, and Russian leather. The candles are also available online at Flair in New York for $128.
Above: The A&S Bandana in natural (shown) and off white.
Above: The Marche Bag is made of cow leather and linen in natural (shown) and ink black.
Above: The unisex Three Eyelets Blucher shoe is made of burgundy cow leather.
Above: Glass Bottle and Flask by Peter Ivy. Glassware by Peter Ivy is also available at Tortoise in Los Angeles.
Above: The No Collar Fake Shirt is made of cotton in blue (shown) and pale saxe blue.