Hello, and thank you for visiting our website.
My name is Yoko Okada, the artist behind capeesh.

I make one-of-a-kind stuffed animals inspired by animals of all kinds.

On this page, I’d like to share a little about why I make animals,
why I choose to make them as stuffed animals,
and some of the things I think about while making them.

Please feel free to read whichever parts interest you.

◼️I Love Animals

I’ve loved animals for as long as I can remember.

They’re beautiful and cute, of course, but they also strike strange poses,
have unexpected round bits, and sometimes grow fur in funny places.

The more closely you look, the more interesting things you find.

Even animals of the same species can have very different faces and body shapes.
And from a different angle, the same animal can look completely different.

I wanted to make animals in a form that could be viewed from all directions
rather than on a flat surface.

That’s why I make them in three dimensions.

◼️Why Stuffed Animals?

My work is made by cutting and sewing fabric.

I’ve always enjoyed sewing, and it has always felt like the most natural way for me to work.

They are three-dimensional animals made from sewn fabric, so I call them stuffed animals.

Calling them sculptures feels a little too grand.

They are, however, a little different from typical stuffed animals.

Inside their bodies are metal armatures, and materials such as glass pellets add weight.
They are soft and floppy, with a little more heft than you might expect when you pick them up.

They aren’t designed for tight hugs, sleeping with, or rough play.

You can look at them, change their pose from time to time, or simply pick them up.

I think there’s room for this kind of stuffed animal in an adult’s life, too.

◼️What Matters to Me When I Make Them

Over the years, there are a few things I’ve found myself unwilling to give up.

They aren’t really rules.
They’re simply things I’ve kept doing.

・Whenever Possible, I Sew My Way Through It

Depending on what I’m trying to make—paw pads, fur patterns, and other details—there are sometimes easier techniques I could use.

Even so, whenever possible, I try to solve the problem through sewing.

I dye fur, piece together fabrics with different colors and pile lengths, and adjust the patterns themselves.

Sometimes having limitations is exactly what leads to new ideas.

・Every Piece Is One of a Kind

Every capeesh piece is one of a kind.

Or rather, even if I tried to make the same piece again, it would be almost impossible to make it exactly the same.

Fur is soft and unpredictable.
A slight difference in where a seam falls can change the direction of the fur or the outline of the body.
Hand-dyed fur also varies from one piece to another.

I can make similar pieces, but never two that are completely identical.

It isn’t very well suited to mass production, but I think that’s part of what makes it interesting.

・It Will Probably Never Be Finished

The patterns, materials, and even the structures inside the bodies keep changing little by little.

Just when I think, “This works,” I start the next piece and find something else I want to change.

When I figure out how to do something I couldn’t do before, I usually find something new I want to try.

So it will probably never be finished.

If you’d like to know more about how I think about design, please visit the [Design Philosophy] page.

◼️If You’re Considering a Purchase

Some things can be difficult to judge from photos and videos alone.

“I’d like to see it from this angle.”
“How big is this part?”
“I’d like to see how it moves.”

If there’s anything you’d like to know, please feel free to contact us before purchasing.
We can provide additional photos or videos.

You can also read reviews from people who have purchased capeesh pieces.
Many of them share their impressions of the pieces in person,
including their weight, softness, texture,
and other details that can be difficult to convey through photos and descriptions alone.

If you’re curious, please take a look at the Reviews.

Each piece comes with its own certificate of authenticity.

If you have any questions about handling or care after your purchase,
you’re always welcome to contact us.

◼️Finally

Thank you for reading this far.

There are several other pages where you can see more of the work and learn about how it is made.
Please explore whichever ones interest you.

HOME — View past works, currently available pieces, and upcoming releases

ABOUT — An overview of the concept and characteristics of capeesh

MAKING OF— A detailed look at how each piece is created

GALLERY — An archive of works that have found their homes

ON MAKING — The ideas that guide the practice

ATELIER — Examples of how the pieces exist within space

Yoko Okada
capeesh