“Trend" can be a demanding thing. It sometimes takes away the identity of a person. It tells us what we should wear, and it can make people to wear the same thing. It is very inconsistent in the fashion way. That is not cool, and it is not fashion to me. I believe fashion should be more from within the individual to create their own identity.
“Fashion is composed of many elements. For me, it's not just clothing. I would like to think of fashion in a more intrinsic way. I would like to think of it as a reflection of the era, such as music, art, cultural values, etc. All of these things are self-expression, individuality, and a medium for expressing ourselves.
"You can be fashionable without following trends"
“I present my collection twice a year, and the concept itself is always changing. (Each collection has its own story, concept, theme, etc.) However, there is a consistency to my work.
“I decide what I would like to express first. Once I have a concrete idea, I think of which technique and material would best express the concept. Then I work with draping or making experimental pieces. I keep repeating these actions until the story and design becomes solid as a collection. The rest is a matter of space and structure. I never work with sketches or drawings, just ideas and techniques.
“First, I analyze myself, what I feel beauty in at that moment. I try to express or present myself as sincerely as possible. For example, what am I angry about, which music, film, book, or even motorbike (my daily life) impressed me, etc. I believe they are the key to opening my new collection. I don’t follow the trends. I do not care what people are wearing. I do not research in any way. The only input I get is from the news. I usually watch the news twice a day. This is really my only input on what is going on in the world. Sometimes this enables me to predict the future. These things inspire me more than any current fashions.”
“It is difficult to answer, as I have many favorite zippers. Allow me to select two items from my favorite list.”
Open CONCEAL® zipper :
“It is no longer a new item; however, I still remember the moment when I saw it for the first time. I was amazed by the fact that a CONCEAL® zipper works as an open end. When I was a student at Central Saint Martins, we were talking about it as a dream zipper. Well, the dream became a true. There is a trick which enables you to stitch until the end of the zipper on slider side. I was fascinated by that trick, indeed. You have to actually see it to understand.”