PATCH&PLAY Proposes "Wearable Art" with First Korean Creator Participation, Expanding to 24 Creators and 200 Types of Patches

STORY&Co. Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Taku Hosokawa), which operates under the slogan "Turning experiences into a baton," announces that its Harajuku-based embroidery and repair shop, PATCH&PLAY, will launch a new patch series by three creators starting July 3, 2026 (Fri).

Since its opening in November 2025, PATCH&PLAY has been developing a creator patch series with illustrators and artists active nationwide. As of July 3, 2026, the lineup will include 24 creators and 200 types of creator patches.

Three new illustrators are joining this time, including the first-ever Korean creator for PATCH&PLAY. Through a creator network expanding from across Japan, including Fukuoka, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Gifu, and Aichi, to South Korea, a diverse range of artistic worlds are being expressed through embroidered patches.

From pop and colorful designs to retro aesthetics and unique character works, customers can enjoy freely customizing their clothes, bags, and hats with the unique expressions of each creator. Furthermore, by "wearing" creator works rather than just "displaying" them, PATCH&PLAY proposes a new lifestyle of casually enjoying art in everyday life.

With the concept "Not back to normal, but to your style," PATCH&PLAY offers the experience of customizing clothes, bags, hats, and more to suit individual styles through patches, embroidery, and repairs.

Creator patches are not mere decorations but tools for expressing what one loves, one's values, and memories. Through patches that express each creator's world through embroidery, we propose a new way to enjoy art by "wearing it." Wear works by your favorite creators or enjoy your own unique combinations.

PATCH&PLAY will continue to deliver encounters with new forms of expression as a place connecting creators and customers.

Introduction of Other Featured Creators

New Creators Joining July 2026

JEON HWANG IL

※ PATCH&PLAY's first creator from South Korea

An illustrator skilled at expressing the individuality and atmosphere of motifs with simple lines. He has collaborated with a wide range of brands in fashion, outdoor goods, and more, translating his sensibility into products and content. He also develops illustrated goods through his own brand "JHIS," disseminating his artistic world into daily life.

https://www.instagram.com/jeonhwangil/

Zakinon

A creator and designer from Mie Prefecture. He primarily creates text graphics that express the meaning and warmth of words, and is active in a wide range of fields including logo design, collaborations with apparel, capsule toys, and planning/production of original goods. His work is characterized by a world of unique ideas and color usage that expresses humor and contemporary sensibility. https://www.instagram.com/azusa_nozaki/

Noriya Takeyama

A unique creator who became an illustrator after working in product development for "Licca-chan." He handles everything from illustrations to planning and content development, expressing his unique worldview. His style evokes a sense of nostalgia, and for this patch design, he is creating works themed around "Tokyo Souvenirs." https://www.instagram.com/noriya777takeyama/

Other Participating Creators (in Japanese syllabary order)

Akiland ※Joined November 2025

An illustrator based in Fukuoka. Her work is characterized by playful, colorful, and unique illustrations drawn with her distinctive sensibility. She founded her original brand "Pirakohouse" and develops/sells goods primarily featuring her illustrations. She is also active in a wide range of fields, including providing illustrations for companies and products, and for artists and influencers.

https://www.instagram.com/akilandillustration/

iromizu ※Joined May 2026

Born and residing in Gifu Prefecture. Began working as an illustrator in 2024. The name "iromizu" comes from "making colored water," something she was engrossed in as a child. She draws colorful, somewhat nostalgic, and soft-toned illustrations in everyday life.

https://www.instagram.com/iromizu_mina/

OHARU ※Joined November 2025

An illustrator based in Fukuoka. She excels at pop and cute illustrations and works on a wide range of projects including portraits and wedding welcome boards, as well as shop designs. She actively participates in solo exhibitions and events throughout the prefecture, creating works themed around "everyday life that gently embraces the heart."

https://www.instagram.com/oharuuun0510/

kisaki ※Joined April 2026

Transitioned from a childcare worker to a freelance illustrator. She is active in a wide range of fields, from illustrations for magazines and advertisements to artist merchandise and logo design. She creates colorful, pop, and catchy illustrations and designs that are exciting to look at. Her hobbies include watching dramas, making snacks, and studying Korean. Her favorite alcoholic beverage is bottled beer.

https://www.instagram.com/watashi_kisaki/

Shimizu ※Joined November 2025

Born in Hiroshima Prefecture in 1993. A researcher exploring "cuteness" and "fun." She utilizes her diverse knowledge gained from collecting toys and miscellaneous goods from the Showa era to the present day, and is active in a wide range of fields including illustrations, design, collaborations with fashion brands, event planning, and book production. She is the head of the miscellaneous goods label "Omakeboshi" and the creator of the popular character "Showa-era Bear Addicted to Smartphones." She likes colorful, dreamy, and interesting things.

https://www.instagram.com/popoiyon/

SAKIPON ※Joined November 2025

Working as an illustrator based in Nagoya. After working as a junior high school teacher and in apparel, she began her career as an illustrator in 2023. She is currently expanding her activities to include illustration production for advertisements and magazines, as well as exhibiting at events both domestically and internationally. Her illustrations are characterized by a pop, colorful, and relaxed touch.

https://www.instagram.com/gdc_skpn/

Sekachi ※Joined November 2025

From Aichi Prefecture. Began posting illustrations on social media in 2023. Her characters, including animals and girls, are drawn with a simple and somewhat quirky touch. She is active mainly on Instagram, as well as in books, magazines, and web media. Her favorite animal is a cat. Her hobbies are walking and collecting character goods.

https://www.instagram.com/sekachi_/

Ricco Tanaka ※Joined March 2026

An illustrator based in Nagoya. Drawing inspiration from her dog BAM and the American雑貨 she collects as a hobby, she develops a street-style retro pop aesthetic in her own unique way.

https://www.instagram.com/dr.bamking/

"Cheer Patches" Popular at the Chofu PARCO POPUP are also on sale!

Patches themed around "cheering" by creators, which were popular at the "MY CHEER STYLE" POPUP event held at Chofu PARCO in June 2026, are also available.

Pricing

Creator Patch: 1,980 yen (tax included)

Patch Heat Press Service: 330 yen (tax included)

Patch Embroidery Service: 1,650 yen (tax included)

Patch to Key Charm Processing: 660 yen (tax included)

Patch to Shoe Customization: 660 yen (tax included)

※ Prices vary depending on the design.

About PATCH&PLAY

PATCH&PLAY is an embroidery and repair shop that opened in November 2025, based in Harajuku, Tokyo. It offers over 500 types of patches, including original designs by creators. In Spring 2026, the brand underwent a rebranding that included an expansion of its logo, concept, and services. With the new concept "Not back to normal, but to your style," it launched new experiential services such as "one-of-a-kind" embroidery customization born through dialogue. It views clothing not merely as "consumables" but as items to be cherished and nurtured with personal style and memories, positioning itself as a creative store that updates the relationship with clothes from "consumption" to "co-creation."

Store Name: PATCH&PLAY

Location: Harajuku Bellpia 1F, 6-6-2 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (Inside NewMake Labo)

Business Hours: 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM (Irregular holidays)

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patchandplay_tokyo/

About STORY&Co. Inc.

STORY&Co. Inc. operates the community "NewMake," which translates social issues into experiences, the shop "PATCH&PLAY" that proposes new relationships with clothing through embroidery and repairs, and the experience sharing site "AND STORY." The company also supports value creation for companies and brands through branding, content production, and design consulting, and promotes sustainable projects, all while developing experiences centered around creativity.

Company Overview

Company Name: STORY&Co. Inc.

Representative: Taku Hosokawa, Representative Director

Location: 3F, Nippon Life Marunouchi Garden Tower, 1-1-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Established: 2016 https://storyandco.co/

【Inquiries regarding PATCH&PLAY/STORY&Co.】

support@storyandco.co

https://www.storyandco.co/contact