Photography: Yasuyo Miyake

— Can you tell me about your background?
After completing my internship at Alexander McQueen and working in Paris for a few months, I received a bachelor’s degree in Ladies Wear at the London College of Fashion (LCF). For a while, I participated in some projects as a freelancer and I even took part in a project with professionals on traditional arts from the Republic of South Africa. I joined in a collection at Gareth Pugh for one season and then established my own brand in 2009. Starting from the couture collection, from 2010 I do pret-a-porter. The theme of the 2010 spring/summer was wasps and the 2010 autumn/winter theme was bats.

— Bats?
The bat is one of my favorite animals. They use ultrasonic waves and transport pollen. They are fascinating. I visit the zoo frequently and I especially recommend the London Zoo.

— You really like animals. Why did you start to think about protecting animals?
I’ve been interested in it since I was young. The elementary school I went to was eager in environmental education, so that might also have been a reason. I was born and raised in London, so I get attracted to nature easily. Like, everyone can get attracted by what they don’t have, you know? I think it’s one of those things. Whatever I draw or design, the inspiration I get is from nature.

— Since you started your brand, were you thinking about dealing with animals and nature throughout fashion?
Not really. While I used to go to LCF, I went with my friend to listen to a lecture given by Katherine Hamnett. I learned some facts, like lots of animals are killed every year because of the insecticides used in cotton and I realized that fashion should be about protecting animals. Connecting the two is what I’ve been putting as much passion as possible into.

— What does “ethical” mean to you?
It’s difficult but I take it as a scientific meaning.

— Science?
I think it is difficult to say and define if that person is ethical or not just by knowing if that person is a vegetarian or not. So, I think it is necessary to have a “scientific” standard of “how much impact you have on the environment” and to show statistically “how much you were environmentally friendly”. For me, ethical is “an approach to coexist with nature”. We don’t even know twenty percent about the earth, so we can’t predict what affect our current lives will have on the future. Don’t you think it’s dangerous to continue how we’re living in that kind of situation?

I now understand that a precise standard is important. Lastly, can you tell me your future dream?
Fashion designs the whole of our lives, so one day I would like to try home wears, too. Also, I would like to try designing wallpaper. I love cooking, so opening a restaurant is another dream. I’ll make cuisine from all over the world by using local foods. I want to have a restaurant which will have a fusion of all the cultures around the world!