Stalking Simone legno

What sort of guy creates the cutest things called Tokidoki? I just had to find out.

I must’ve Secreted meeting Italian illustrator Simone Legno (pronounced “see-mo-ne, len-yo”) when I first saw his photos online.

Now my heart belongs to Tokidoki.

It started with that one pouch I saw at Rustan’s way back from his first collaboration with Lesportsac.

I wanted to find out more.

Online research led me to Simone’s photos on Flickr. At that moment I felt he was a warm, fuzzy soul, just like his characters.

Last week he was a guest speaker at Graphika Manila’s international design conference at Mall of Asia.

While I was not able to go there, I was told he would be at an autograph signing at Fresh on Sgt. Esguerra in Quezon City.

Last Sunday I joined about a hundred fans at the art toy store.

We arrived at 5 p.m. and saw Simone standing outside with a bottle of San Mig Light. He looked so approachable and exactly like his online photos, wearing Tokidoki apparel.

The storeowners recognized me and whisked me away to meet him.

I knew exactly what I wanted to say. What do you say to a guy who makes the cutest things on earth, if you could only say one thing?

“I love you,” I told Simone.

We all laughed. I think that’s all I wanted to say to him, really.

I had two Lepsortsac bags signed (and left the rest at home), and a Mini Munny toy that Bigboy, one of the storeowners, gave me.

I also ended up buying a Mozzarella stuffed toy, which slept on my bed last night.

To date, the prolific artist has collaborated with happening companies like Lesportsac, Smashbox cosmetics, Hello Kitty, Onitsuka Tiger, Fornarina, Colette, Fujitsu, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York, and more.

With all his accomplishments, Simone remains humble and unassuming.

He took time to doodle on all the pieces we brought for him to sign. He was in no hurry to get out of there, and nobody minded waiting in line.

Tokidoki means “sometimes” in Japanese. Simone Legno was born in Rome, Italy, 31 years ago. His mother was a classical art painter. From a very young age Simone always loved to draw, carrying crayons and pencils wherever he went.

His brother introduced him to Japanese manga and animation, starting his love affair with anything Japanese.

This is reflected in the beautiful Asian women and cute characters portrayed in his drawings.

A few years ago he started his personal website (www.tokodoki.it) which was discovered by a co-founder of Hard Candy Cosmetics in 2003.

They flew him to Los Angeles and by 2004 Tokidoki became an art, apparel and lifestyle brand producing everything from vinyl toys, skateboards, iSkins, flash drives, jewelry, watches, sportswear and other accessories.

Simone continues to do advertising and media design for other well-known names including Volkswagen, MTV, John Galliano, Champion, Toyota, Renault, Daihatsu, BenQ, Microsoft, Narcotic Bureau of Singapore, Telecom Italia, TIM, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week L.A. 2005, and many more.

(Source: Beverlyhillspeople.com)