EDIT.
by Stella Ishii
Born and raised in Yokohama, Stella Ishii grew up bilingual, thanks to her Irish grandfather’s insistence
on an international education. But Japan felt stifling, and she set her sights on the world beyond. Telling
her parents she was off to learn French, she instead embarked on a journey through Europe before
landing in Los Angeles in the mid-1980s.
As an outsider with an affinity for the unconventional, Stella wanted to be a social worker. But a chance
meeting with Rei Kawakubo in Tokyo steered her toward fashion—where her open mind and deep
understanding of creativity and Japanese mentality found a new home. With no money for designer
clothing, she always wore vintage, developing a sharp eye and a distinct sense of individuality.
Today, Ishii is the force behind The NEWS, the celebrated fashion agency (founded in 2000), and her own label, 6397 (founded in 2013). Rooted in collaboration and discovery, her work is about more than just clothes—it’s about fostering talent, building brands, and creating something meaningful together. “It’s never a dull moment,” she says of her intentionally fluid, uncorporate world—one that continues to challenge the rules, just as she always has.
Item
“The Original Rubber black, I like to wear it oversized. I love the construction and the rubber seams. It’s a timeless piece, and I feel protected wearing it.”
Original below rubber black
Artist
“Ari Marcopoulos, my whole image of New York! He doesn’t shoot much fashion, his work is mostly about people, and the city. Art director and friend David Ortega (Studio 191) introduced us. We work with Ari twice a year, shooting season-less looks for our 6397 wheat pastings. I love how they have a life of their own over time - the weather and wear and tear that just naturally happens.”
Object
“Snow globes. I started collecting them when I was travelling for CDG. It became a thing, to a point that people have started gifting them to me over the years and I now must have hundreds.”
Car
“When I moved from Japan to LA in 1985, I didn’t have my drivers licence. So I got it there, and then bought my dream-car - El Camino, which means the highway.”
Scent
“Kyoto by Comme des Garçons, I have worn it since it launched in 2002. It smells like the temples in Kyoto, which reminds me of the time I attended a 4-week silence retreat at the age of 16, until I decided it wasn’t for me and left after a week.”
Dish
“Noodles at Omen - probably the oldest restaurant in New York. My husband and I have been eating there every week since the eighties. It started when I would come to NYC with Rei (Kawakubo), she would want to have noodles so we’d always go there. Their noodles and broth are the best in town.”
Song
“‘Everything is broken’ by Bob Dylan. It’s so relevant right now.”
