Inside the Mind of Ito Satomi: The Costume Designer of Yuzuru Hanyu and Ilia Malinin
The ice is Ito Satomi’s fashion runway. Figure skaters are her supermodels. The Olympic Games are her Fashion Week.
This Tokyo-based designer is about to make a significant statement as the Olympic Winter Games arrive in Milan, where the Milano Ice Skating Arena will be her rhinestone-encrusted stage. Notably known for her collaboration with renowned athlete Yuzuru Hanyu, a two-time Olympic champion, Ito’s work is crucial as she dresses Ilia Malinin, the overwhelming gold medal favorite and two-time world champion, for both of his programs.
Ito’s creations do not merely dazzle; they resonate with a higher purpose. Her focus is on amplifying the core messages of the athletes’ performances while instilling a sense of confidence. “I create them with the hope of motivating the athletes,” she emphasized. “The costumes should make them feel fired up.”
Unexpectedly diving into the world of ice skating fashion, Ito initially aimed for haute couture. Her inspiration came from watching Asada Mao, which ignited her profound interest in this dynamic sport. Though she began in high fashion, after returning to Japan, Ito redirected her career towards figure skating design.
Her passion blossomed into a career with her first significant client, junior champion Imai Haruka. Over the years, her list of clients has grown to include sports legends like Hanyu, Malinin, and Olympic silver medalists Shoma Uno and Evgenia Medvedeva.
The design process demands acute attention to detail; each costume must weigh less than 800 grams to accommodate the skaters’ complex movements. It begins about six months from competition, requiring multimedia collaboration between Ito, skaters, and choreographers, ensuring the vision -both artistic and functional – aligns perfectly.
As the fashion world awaits her masterpieces at the Milano Games, Ito’s artistic journey reflects the intertwining relationship between sport, art, and personal expression on the ice, capturing both the heart and the narrative of figure skating’s vibrant landscape.
