saint mxx hoodie is one of the more distinctive names in modern streetwear. Behind the brand are two creatives from very different backgrounds: Los Angeles artist Cali Thornhill DeWitt and Japanese designer Yuta Hosokawa, the founder and designer associated with READYMADE.

Their partnership brought together American art, Japanese craftsmanship, vintage clothing, religious imagery, and contemporary streetwear. The result was a brand built around garments that look naturally aged while being carefully developed and processed. Understanding the people behind Saint Michael helps explain why its clothing looks and feels different from ordinary graphic streetwear.

1. Who Are Cali Thornhill DeWitt and Yuta Hosokawa?

Cali Thornhill DeWitt is a Los Angeles-based multidisciplinary artist whose work has included graphic design, photography, music-related projects, publishing, and fashion. He has also worked on projects connected to major artists and underground creative communities.

Yuta Hosokawa is a Japanese designer best known for creating READYMADE, a label built around reconstructing and reworking vintage and military-inspired materials. Hypebeast describes READYMADE as a project based on recycling and remaking vintage pieces. 

Although their professional backgrounds were different, both shared an interest in vintage clothing and creative experimentation.That shared interest eventually became the foundation for Saint Michael.

2. How Did They Meet?

The connection between the two designers came through Kubo, the founder of Japanese retailer GR8. DeWitt and Hosokawa already knew of each other's work, and Kubo helped bring them together.According to their 2020 Hypebeast interview, the two had known each other for several years before starting Saint Michael. They had also previously worked together on READYMADE-related projects. 

Their existing relationship was important because Saint Michael was not created as a traditional business partnership between strangers. They already understood each other's creative interests.This gave them the freedom to experiment with a new direction.

3. When Did They Start Saint Michael?

saint michael clothing The idea for the brand began around July 2019. Hosokawa said he wanted to create something together with DeWitt, and the project developed from that conversation.

The first idea was relatively simple: Hosokawa wanted to create a vintage-style brand with pieces that could have a one-of-a-kind feeling. DeWitt liked the idea of continuing a creative project together, and the concept quickly developed into Saint Michael.

The brand was subsequently introduced in Paris in January 2020, with its first collection arriving for Fall/Winter 2020. So while Saint Michael became known internationally quite quickly, its origins came from a relatively informal creative conversation.

4. What Inspired Yuta Hosokawa?

Hosokawa's experience with vintage clothing had a major influence on the project.

Before becoming known internationally for READYMADE, he had worked in a vintage clothing store. His interest in older garments continued into his fashion career and influenced the way he approached materials, construction, and ageing. For Saint Michael, he wanted to go beyond simply printing graphics onto new blank garments.

He focused on fabrics, sewing, colour, printing, and ageing techniques. In the early development process, the team studied garments from previous decades and tried to reproduce their character.This attention to detail became one of Saint Michael's defining qualities.

5. What Did Cali Thornhill DeWitt Bring to the Brand?

DeWitt brought a strong visual and artistic perspective.

His background is not limited to fashion. He has worked across art, graphics, music, photography, publishing, and other creative areas. Highsnobiety describes him as a multidisciplinary artist whose work moves between underground and mainstream creative culture. This background can be seen in Saint Michael's graphics.

The brand uses religious imagery, vintage lettering, illustrations, unusual typography, and references connected to music and popular culture. Instead of treating graphics as small decorations, Saint Michael often makes them central to the garment.DeWitt's contribution helped give the brand this strong visual personality.

6. How Do Their Creative Styles Work Together?

saint michael hoodie One of the most interesting parts of Saint Michael is how the two designers communicate.DeWitt has described their creative process as an ongoing exchange of images, ideas, and messages between Los Angeles and Japan. At the time of a Highsnobiety interview, the two were working across a significant language difference, communicating through a mixture of words, images, and emojis. 

In the original Hypebeast interview, Hosokawa explained that DeWitt could provide an idea, which he would sketch and then revise together with him. Hosokawa also sometimes hand-drew designs supplied by DeWitt. 

This back-and-forth process is important to the Saint Michael identity.The artwork does not come from only one person. It develops through collaboration.

7. Why Is Vintage So Important to Saint Michael?

Vintage clothing is one of the strongest connections between the two founders.Both DeWitt and Hosokawa have spoken about their interest in vintage clothing, and Saint Michael was designed from the beginning to have a lasting, vintage-inspired identity. 

Hosokawa has explained that the goal was to make people feel the history of vintage clothing when they held a Saint Michael garment. The early production process therefore involved special treatments designed to create an aged appearance. 

The brand's clothing can feature fading, cracked graphics, stains, uneven surfaces, and other details associated with old garments.The important difference is that these effects are intentionally created during production.

8. How Does Japanese Craftsmanship Shape the Brand?

Hosokawa's Japanese design background has a major influence on Saint Michael.In the original launch interview, he explained that the first collection was made in Japan and that the team wanted to focus carefully on materials and individual pieces rather than rushing to produce a huge range. He also discussed studying small details found in vintage garments, including fabrics, colours, sewing, and ageing.

This approach creates an interesting contrast. Saint Michael clothing may look rough, damaged, or naturally old, but achieving that appearance requires considerable control over the production process.A recently published interview with the founders also says the brand continues to work closely with production teams and uses repeated trials to refine its vintage processing. 

9. Where Did the Saint Michael Name Come From?

The story behind the name is closely connected to Cali Thornhill DeWitt.According to interviews with the founders, DeWitt's real first name is Michael. While discussing possible names for their new project, they connected Michael with the religious figure Saint Michael, and the name became part of the brand concept. 

The name then influenced the creative direction of the first collection.Hosokawa researched Saint Michael and related Christian subjects, including Adam and Jesus. This research helped introduce religious imagery into the early designs. That is why angels, crosses, Jesus, prayers, and other religious references became such recognizable parts of Saint Michael clothing.

10. What Makes Their Design Philosophy Different?

 saint michael t-shirt DeWitt and Hosokawa were interested in creating clothing that could remain relevant beyond a single fashion season.In their launch interview, Hosokawa said he wanted Saint Michael to become a lasting brand rather than something that quickly became dated. He referenced brands such as Levi's and Chrome Hearts as examples of labels with enduring identities. This philosophy helps explain the brand's focus on vintage aesthetics.

Instead of making garments that depend entirely on current trends, Saint Michael tries to give its pieces a worn character that can continue to work as they age.The founders' recent comments similarly describe a goal of creating products that people can keep wearing and that develop more character over time. 

11. How Did Their Partnership Shape Saint Michael Clothing?

Saint Michael would look very different if only one founder's background influenced it.

Hosokawa contributes Japanese fashion knowledge, production experience, and a long interest in vintage and reconstructed garments.DeWitt contributes visual art, graphic design, Los Angeles culture, and connections to music and creative communities.

Together, these influences created a recognizable combination:

• Japanese production

• American vintage references

• Religious imagery

• Graphic artwork

• Distressed finishes

• Relaxed streetwear

• Artistic experimentation

This mixture is a major reason Saint Michael has developed an identity that can be recognized across its hoodies, T-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, and other pieces.

12. Why Are Cali Thornhill DeWitt and Yuta Hosokawa Important to Saint Michael?

The story of Saint Michael is ultimately the story of a creative partnership.

Cali Thornhill DeWitt and Yuta Hosokawa came from different countries, industries, and creative backgrounds, but they shared an interest in vintage clothing and long-lasting design.

Their first project grew from a conversation in 2019 into a brand launched internationally in 2020. Hosokawa's production knowledge helped shape the physical character of the clothing, while DeWitt's artistic background helped establish its graphic identity.

The result is a brand that connects Japanese craftsmanship with Los Angeles creativity.For USA and UK streetwear fans, understanding this partnership makes Saint Michael more than just a collection of distressed T-shirts and hoodies. It shows how two different creative worlds can work together to create a distinctive fashion language.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who founded Saint Michael?

Saint Michael was founded by Japanese designer Yuta Hosokawa and Los Angeles artist Cali Thornhill DeWitt. 

When did Saint Michael start?

The founders began developing the project around July 2019, with the brand launching its first collection in 2020. 

What is Yuta Hosokawa known for?

Yuta Hosokawa is best known as the designer and founder associated with READYMADE, a Japanese label focused on reconstructed vintage and military-inspired materials. 

Who is Cali Thornhill DeWitt?

Cali Thornhill DeWitt is a Los Angeles-based multidisciplinary artist who has worked across graphics, photography, music, publishing, and fashion. 

Why does Saint Michael clothing look vintage?

The founders intentionally use vintage-processing techniques, distressed finishes, and aged-looking graphics to create the character of older garments.