Figure skating costumes are created for fleeting moments of performance. They catch the light on the rink, transform with every movement of the body, and seemingly complete their purpose when the performance ends. A new exhibition now offers the opportunity to encounter this “haute couture on ice” apart from the stage—as works of art in their own right.

photo by ©FASHION HEADLINE
To celebrate the publication of Couture on Ice: Yuzuru Hanyu × Satomi Ito, an exhibition featuring costumes and photography opened on July 24 at TOWER GALLERY on the third floor of Tokyo Tower FootTown.

The exhibition brings together four one-of-a-kind costumes created exclusively for Yuzuru Hanyu by costume designer Satomi Ito, alongside newly commissioned photographs by Toru Yaguchi, previously unpublished images, and behind-the-scenes photographs. Rather than presenting competition costumes alone, it traces the creative journey behind their creation.

Haute Couture Details Impossible to See on the Ice

What immediately commands attention in the exhibition space is the extraordinary density of detail contained within each costume.

On television or from the audience at an ice show, the embellishments may register as a single field of brilliance. Seen up close, however, that radiance resolves into countless bijoux, intricate embroidery, subtle color gradations, layered materials, and accumulated hours of handwork. The experience feels less like viewing athletic attire than encountering a piece of haute couture.

photo by ©FASHION HEADLINE
The four costumes on display—Sakura, Moonlight Sonata, Knight of the White Peacock, and Energy—are unique creations actually worn by Hanyu. Presented at a proximity impossible during competitions or ice shows, they allow visitors to appreciate their sculptural beauty and craftsmanship in full.

A Space Where Costumes and Photography Respond to One Another

Another defining feature of the exhibition is the way the original costumes displayed on mannequins share the same space as photographs of Hanyu wearing them on the ice.

The photographs restore the movement, atmosphere, and physical expression that a stationary garment alone can only suggest. At the same time, the actual costumes reveal textures, volume, and construction that photography cannot fully convey.

As the costumes and images respond to one another, the exhibition creates a vivid sense that a fleeting performance has returned to life before the viewer.

photo by ©FASHION HEADLINE

The Creative Thinking Preserved in the Design Sketches

Alongside the completed costumes, the exhibition also presents Satomi Ito’s original design sketches.

Delicate color studies are accompanied by handwritten notes such as “add slits so it flutters in motion” and “make the tassels three-dimensional.”

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These are more than preliminary illustrations. They are working blueprints that consider how a garment will move across the ice, how it will appear from different angles, and how it can heighten the impact of a performance.

The lines and annotations offer a glimpse into the thought process behind each costume, revealing the meticulous attention to detail and craftsmanship embedded in its creation.

The Photobook as Another Work of Art

The photobook Couture on Ice is also available at the venue.

Its special-edition format includes newly photographed works, an embroidered lace and photography set, a making-of volume, a concept and interview book, and access to exclusive video content. Rather than functioning solely as a photobook, it has been conceived as an archive of the project in its entirety.

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Throughout the exhibition period, a slideshow featuring images from the book and photographs of the displayed costumes will also be screened on the 260-inch monitor at club333 on Tokyo Tower’s Main Deck.

The wider Tokyo Tower setting thus becomes another stage through which visitors can experience the world of Couture on Ice.

Courtesy of Two Virgins

From Costumes for Performance to Works for Contemplation

Figure skating costumes are ordinarily created to exist within a performance. Yet Couture on Ice transforms garments made for a single moment into works that endure through photography and exhibition.

photo by ©FASHION HEADLINE
The process begins with a design sketch, takes physical form through Satomi Ito’s craftsmanship, comes alive through Yuzuru Hanyu’s body and movement, and is preserved through Toru Yaguchi’s photography.

This exhibition is therefore not only an opportunity to view completed costumes. It also traces the creative journey through which a singular piece of haute couture comes into being.