Bridal Brand atelier ST,CAT Under New Management. Akio Kano Appointed New Director. Separating Management and Creative to Strengthen Business Growth.
Key facts
- Bridal Brand atelier ST,CAT Under New Management. Akio Kano Appointed New Director. Separating Management and Creative to Strengthen Business Growth.
- Bridal brand atelier ST,CAT announces Akio Kano's appointment as Creative Director. This strategic move aims to separate management and creative functions, allowing CEO Seiko Hayashi to focus on business development while Kano enhances the brand's creative direction, thereby accelerating business growth and consistency.
- Source: PR Times
- Date: May 7, 2026
Direct answer
Bridal brand atelier ST,CAT announces Akio Kano's appointment as Creative Director. This strategic move aims to separate management and creative functions, allowing CEO Seiko Hayashi to focus on business development while Kano enhances the brand's creative direction, thereby accelerating business growth and consistency.
- Citation
- Bridal Brand atelier ST,CAT Under New Management. Akio Kano Appointed New Director. Separating Management and Creative to Strengthen Business Growth. (May 7, 2026), PR Times
- Source
- PR Times
- Date
- May 7, 2026
Bridal brand atelier ST,CAT announces Akio Kano's appointment as Creative Director. This strategic move aims to separate management and creative functions, allowing CEO Seiko Hayashi to focus on business development while Kano enhances the brand's creative direction, thereby accelerating business growth and consistency.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 7, 2026 at 22:30
- 🔍 Collected: May 7, 2026 at 14:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 7, 2026 at 14:27 (25 min after Collected)
Bridal brand [atelier ST,CAT] announces the appointment of Akio Kano as Creative Director (hereinafter, CD).
New Creative Director Akio Kano
Representative Director Seiko Hayashi
Background
Since its establishment, Representative Hayashi has been responsible for brand management and creative oversight. However, with strong business growth, strengthening the strategic management base has become an urgent priority for future business expansion.
This organizational change aims to create an environment where Hayashi can focus exclusively on management and business development, while entrusting full creative authority to Kano, who has long supported the brand's creative work on the ground. The goal is to further enhance the brand's consistency and expressive power.
The new CD, Kano, has been at the core of atelier ST,CAT since its launch, working as both a designer and a craftsperson. Leveraging the experience gained through manufacturing, Kano will oversee the creative direction of the entire brand with a fresh perspective.
About the Brand
Combining materials, designs, polishing, and options, atelier ST,CAT offers "couple-like" designs that accompany the changing phases of life.
They create highly original bespoke wedding and engagement rings, transcending conventional values, hand-made by artisans in their in-house atelier located adjacent to their Yoyogi Uehara store.
The brand debuted in 2014 as a handmade brand by former fashion editor Seiko Hayashi. It launched its wedding ring business in 2022 and transitioned into a specialized bridal brand in 2023.
Its strengths lie in the combination of in-house atelier manufacturing and the design sensibility cultivated through fashion jewelry. Its characteristic texture, retaining the subtle irregularities of handwork, evokes "an unfinished space expanding into two lives." It is gaining support from a wide range of customers as a new option for wedding rings.
About the New Store
New Store (Also with an in-house atelier, like the main store. Designed by MILESTONE, same as the main store.)
In late June 2025, atelier ST,CAT is scheduled to open a new store specializing in engagement rings and diamond rings, located a 3-minute walk from its main store (Yoyogi Uehara). The design will also be handled by MILESTONE, same as the main store.
In addition to natural diamonds, they will also offer lab-grown diamonds, proposing diverse options not only for engagement rings but also for commemorative jewelry.
Details about the new store will be announced as soon as they are finalized.
atelier ST, CAT
1-32-3 CABO uehara 205, Uehara, Shibuya-ku
10:00-18:00 Closed Tuesdays *By appointment
info@st-cat.com
Company Overview
BH-Long Co., Ltd.
Representative Director: Seiko Ito (Hayashi)
Web: https://st-cat.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atelierstcat/
Inquiries regarding this release
atelier ST,CAT Public Relations | info@st-cat.com
New Creative Director Akio Kano
Representative Director Seiko Hayashi
Background
Since its establishment, Representative Hayashi has been responsible for brand management and creative oversight. However, with strong business growth, strengthening the strategic management base has become an urgent priority for future business expansion.
This organizational change aims to create an environment where Hayashi can focus exclusively on management and business development, while entrusting full creative authority to Kano, who has long supported the brand's creative work on the ground. The goal is to further enhance the brand's consistency and expressive power.
The new CD, Kano, has been at the core of atelier ST,CAT since its launch, working as both a designer and a craftsperson. Leveraging the experience gained through manufacturing, Kano will oversee the creative direction of the entire brand with a fresh perspective.
About the Brand
Combining materials, designs, polishing, and options, atelier ST,CAT offers "couple-like" designs that accompany the changing phases of life.
They create highly original bespoke wedding and engagement rings, transcending conventional values, hand-made by artisans in their in-house atelier located adjacent to their Yoyogi Uehara store.
The brand debuted in 2014 as a handmade brand by former fashion editor Seiko Hayashi. It launched its wedding ring business in 2022 and transitioned into a specialized bridal brand in 2023.
Its strengths lie in the combination of in-house atelier manufacturing and the design sensibility cultivated through fashion jewelry. Its characteristic texture, retaining the subtle irregularities of handwork, evokes "an unfinished space expanding into two lives." It is gaining support from a wide range of customers as a new option for wedding rings.
About the New Store
New Store (Also with an in-house atelier, like the main store. Designed by MILESTONE, same as the main store.)
In late June 2025, atelier ST,CAT is scheduled to open a new store specializing in engagement rings and diamond rings, located a 3-minute walk from its main store (Yoyogi Uehara). The design will also be handled by MILESTONE, same as the main store.
In addition to natural diamonds, they will also offer lab-grown diamonds, proposing diverse options not only for engagement rings but also for commemorative jewelry.
Details about the new store will be announced as soon as they are finalized.
atelier ST, CAT
1-32-3 CABO uehara 205, Uehara, Shibuya-ku
10:00-18:00 Closed Tuesdays *By appointment
info@st-cat.com
Company Overview
BH-Long Co., Ltd.
Representative Director: Seiko Ito (Hayashi)
Web: https://st-cat.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atelierstcat/
Inquiries regarding this release
atelier ST,CAT Public Relations | info@st-cat.com
FAQ
What are the key facts in this article?
Bridal brand atelier ST,CAT announces Akio Kano's appointment as Creative Director. This strategic move aims to separate management and creative functions, allowing CEO Seiko Hayashi to focus on business development while Kano enhances the brand's creative direction, thereby accelerating business growth and consistency.
What is the direct answer?
Bridal brand atelier ST,CAT announces Akio Kano's appointment as Creative Director. This strategic move aims to separate management and creative functions, allowing CEO Seiko Hayashi to focus on business development while Kano enhances the brand's creative direction, thereby accelerating business growth and consistency.
What is the source and date?
PR Times: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000003.000057353.html | May 7, 2026