Who is Cresava?
Cresava brings together material innovators, designers, and masters of craft.
CEO
Hiroshi Sonobe
Hiroshi Sonobe began his career at UNIQLO under Fast Retailing, working within the R&D TOKYO Men’s Design Team across product design, textile development, merchandising, and collaborative projects. During his time there, he contributed to the development of the Super Non-Iron Shirt, which became one of the company’s flagship product lines.
In 2018, he founded Cresava Co., Ltd., where he continues to explore new systems for natural fibre development across material research, craftsmanship, and industrial application.
Vice President
Genbei Yamaguchi
Genbei Yamaguchi is the tenth-generation head of Makitaya Genbei, a Kyoto-based obi house founded in the Muromachi period. Working closely with skilled dyeing and weaving artisans, his practice explores the relationship between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary expression.
Known for reinterpreting classical techniques through innovative material and pattern development, his works have been recognised internationally by collectors, institutions, and museums.
At Cresava, he contributes longstanding craft knowledge and a material-led perspective, helping bridge traditional craftsmanship with future natural fibre development through collaboration, experimentation, and shared knowledge.
R&D Director
Takashi Hiratsuka
After graduating from ESMOD Japan, Takashi Hiratsuka worked across product planning and apparel development, including roles with Dickies and other fashion companies.
At Cresava, he leads research and material development across natural fibre applications, focusing on how traditional materials and processes can evolve into scalable contemporary systems. His work bridges experimentation, production, and technical development, supporting the transition of washi-based materials from craft process to wider industrial application.
Alongside his work in material innovation, he continues to explore the relationship between fashion, environment, and cultural experience through interdisciplinary research and spatial projects.
Creative Director
Alexandra Cook
Alexandra Cook is a London-born illustrator, graphic novelist, and creative director working across visual storytelling, material culture, and contemporary craft. A graduate of London College of Fashion, her practice spans illustration, textiles, and narrative-led visual direction between London and Tokyo.
Alongside her independent artistic and publishing work, she has received recognition through the Manga Jiman Competition organised by the Embassy of Japan in the UK and the AOI World Illustration Awards in 2023.
At Cresava, she leads the company’s creative and narrative direction, shaping how material research, craftsmanship, and natural fibre development are communicated across visual, cultural, and international contexts.