Dualities are all around us—often unnoticed—but this time, they were impossible to ignore, marked by a rare and special symbol in the sky.

It was an early winter morning as we entered Moscow. After spending the New Year’s holiday visiting a past partner’s family, we had driven through the night to reach the city. I woke up in the backseat to the breathtaking sight of a sundog, a phenomenon I had never seen before. The sun, flanked by two radiant reflections, seemed to hang in the icy air, a mesmerizing display that left me in awe.

The temperature outside was a biting -25 degrees Celsius, and our destination was the sprawling chaos of Sadovod, Moscow’s largest open-air market. There, amidst the freezing cold, we bid farewell to the family and began our hunt for unique fabrics. Hours of searching and inquiries with merchants eventually led us to a stall where we discovered this extraordinary pattern. The cold was unrelenting, unbearable without layers of jackets and gloves—it was the coldest I had ever experienced. Yet the merchants stood there all day, braving the elements, their resilience a quiet testament to strength.

This is where the fabric’s story began. Its journey, however, highlights another duality: the staggering contrast between the -25 degrees Celsius where it was found and the 35 degrees Celsius heat of the Philippines, where it was transformed into a kimono. This extreme difference in temperatures reflects the broader duality of its path—from the frozen markets of Moscow to the tropical warmth of its creation and travels.

After leaving Moscow, I flew directly to the Philippines to launch Yugto. This kimono became one of the very first pieces we produced, and it has since been part of many adventures. It witnessed sunrise atop the Philippines’ third-highest peak and endured the darkness at the bottom of the country’s deepest cave. Over time, it traveled more than 25,000 kilometers—not through unnecessary cargo routes, but with me, woven into the chapters of my journey.

Unlike some garments, this kimono wasn’t born of an exclusive story tied to its design, but its journey has made it truly exceptional. From the icy markets of Moscow to the lush landscapes of the Philippines, its tale reflects transformation, strength, and the spirit of Yugto. We believe this kimono has earned its place as a true Yugto piece, carrying its own story of dualities, adventures, and the contrasts that shaped it.