Ryota Iwai is the founder and designer of AURALEE,
a Tokyo-based label known for its elevated materials, muted confidence, and textural clarity.
Each collection explores the tension between softness and structure.
a Tokyo-based label known for its elevated materials, muted confidence, and textural clarity.
Each collection explores the tension between softness and structure.
I photographed Iwai-san for VOGUE Korea’s “J ISSUE”,
a feature celebrating 60 years of Korea–Japan diplomatic relations.
The shoot took place inside the AURALEE pressroom —
a space as thoughtful and distilled as the garments themselves.
a feature celebrating 60 years of Korea–Japan diplomatic relations.
The shoot took place inside the AURALEE pressroom —
a space as thoughtful and distilled as the garments themselves.
He dressed exactly like himself, in a way that made everyone else trying too hard look slightly ridiculous; good shirts, old shoes, jackets that already looked lived in, nothing overly considered and yet somehow completely convincing.
The portrait appears in the September 2025 issue of VOGUE Korea.
Words by Gayoung Ryu
Photography by Hyojin Jeong
Written by Ina Kong
Photography by Hyojin Jeong
Written by Ina Kong
