Alex Eagle Explains Wabi-Sabi and How to Bring the Aesthetic Home

In a new Vogue column, London-based designer Alex Eagle explores wabi-sabi, a Japanese philosophy rooted in Zen Buddhism that emerged in the 15th century as a reaction against excess. The aesthetic values imperfection, impermanence, and the beauty of age. Eagle interviews Ryota Iwai, founder of Auralee, who prefers worn, imperfect objects; chef Imogen Kwok, who sees wabi-sabi in her aged carbon steel knives; and New York-based stylist Colin King, who notes that time becomes a collaborator in design. At Hôtel du Couvent, a restored 16th-century Provençal convent, a flea-market table with patina serves as the restaurant's focal point, as explained by brand head Vanina Kovarski. Eagle recommends handmade items like Colin King's onyx bowl for Zara Home, Bode's fringe dress, and House of Lyria's linen napkins. She contrasts wabi-sabi with minimalism, noting that wabi-sabi welcomes texture and irregularity. The column includes a curated edit of shoppable products.