Pâte à chou Black Formal Vol.3

From “Pâte à chou,” a collection filled with only the things Yasumi Inoue has always loved,
we present the Black Formal Collection.
In this third journal, we talk about jewelry—featuring a conversation with Ms. Takashio.

Jaipur – A Global Hub for Gemstones from Around the World

Junko Takashio, joined the company in 2001. Production manager with deep expertise in Indian craftsmanship.

The Black Formal Jewelry Collection was created in collaboration with a Japanese designer based in Jaipur, northern India.

Jaipur is a city renowned for its centuries-old gemstone-cutting craftsmanship and is known as a global center where gemstones used in jewelry are gathered from around the world. All the stones and metals used in this collection have been meticulously crafted by hand on-site.

Special attention was paid to both safety and durability, including thoughtful design of the clasps. The chain lengths were adjusted through repeated fittings to ensure they not only look beautiful when worn but also feel just right.

Each Piece, Carefully Crafted by Hand

“Silver is great for everyday wear, but since this is a black formal collection, I felt it needed gold. And from the beginning, I knew I wanted to include pearls—so I chose seed pearls.”
— Yasumi Inoue

The gold used is 18-karat from southern India—now especially valuable due to the recent surge in gold prices. For silver, we used 925 sterling silver. While the pieces were initially polished to a high shine, we gave them a subtly tarnished finish in the final stage to better complement the clothing.

Even the small parts, such as earring backs, are made from the same gold and silver materials, all carefully handcrafted one by one.

Since all the stones are natural, each one has slight variations in color and character, even within the same type. For this collection, we used four types of stones—crystal quartz, chalcedony, pink tourmaline, and kyanite—along with tiny seed pearls, which have long been cherished by the people of India.

Each Box is Also Handmade

“Since this collection is for women, I requested that each box be adorned with delicate flowers. With time, the flowers may naturally come loose—but as they are made from real materials, I hope you'll embrace their gentle impermanence.”
— Yasumi Inoue

The jewelry boxes are made from handmade paper crafted by dissolving cotton—gathered in India—into fibers and carefully hand-pressing each sheet one by one. The petal-like decorations, reminiscent of pressed flowers, are embedded into the paper during this process. The flowers, such as marigolds native to India, were lovingly picked by local women.

Inside each box, the cushion is made by carefully stuffing cotton into silk fabric, stitching it closed, and finishing it with hand embroidery—all done entirely by hand.

Since the 'Pâte à chou' logo in French was hand-embroidered by artisans in India, it might even carry a hint of a Hindi flair—whether intentional or not! (laughs)

Each piece may have its own little quirks or imperfections, but we hope you'll find charm in those, too—they’re part of what makes every item feel so personal.

We invite you to visit a 45R store to discover these treasures for yourself.

【 45R Stores Carrying Pâte à chou Black Formal】
• New York Uptown - 18th July
• Hong Kong Star Street - 22nd July
• Beijing San Li Tun - 8th August
• Paris Saint-Honoré Store - 19th September

Availability of designs, colors, and sizes may vary by location. Please contact the store directly for details.
Read Black Formal Journal Vol.2
Read Black Formal Journal Vol.1
Explore Styling for Black Formal