Photography /
Editorial / Print
As featured in Unfolded Magazine Issue 09
Yuichi Ozaki is a graduate from a Fashion University in Japan
and started designing five years ago as a student. He won a
competition in Japan two years ago, and the competition's
association brought him to Nottingham Trent University on a
scholarship. He is interested in how people develop and
approach fashion design and the differences between European and
Japanese
fashion.
He believes "fashion has a lot of possibility, such as it
might change people's lives, it might change the age, it might
bring happiness into people's lives" so in a way he seeks to take
that idea of change and incorporate it into his designs, we see
this in the revealed origami shapes incorporated into the pieces
when unzipped, highlighting the influences from Japanese
culture.
Inspired by trick art such as M. C. Esher, Yuichi's theme
started exploring 2D and 3D forms and he found some street art and
pictures that are like Escher's. "At the beginning, I thought I can
express this world through print, but it is not as interesting and
finally, I got an answer that is folded origami, and my collection
could be expressed through folded stripe print and pop-up systems.
Before I made origami things using fabrics I made 200 to 300 paper
samples and decided upon exactly what shapes to use, eventually
laser cutting fabrics to make the desired effect".
His designs have led to Yuichi winning the BILBAO
International Art & Fashion competition, an award which he says
has an important meaning in his life because "Bilbao is a city is
focusing on art nowadays. I am honoured to get this prize and
it is a great confidence boost" His winning outfit used a range of
materials - including wool, felt, printed cotton, velvet, and
engraved leather – to create an illusion of folding stripes,
silhouettes and a three-dimensional effect with a zip. As models
unzipped or unbuttoned their jackets a whole new art work took
form. The vertical stripes at the front of the cape jacket can be
seen in a different way when viewed from the side - as if they are
refracting.
On personal style and methodology, Yuichi says "I cannot
impress others with things I am not impressed by myself. My
creation should satisfy my goals and appeal to the viewer's five
senses so I do not want to compromise on any of my creations.
Also, I question what seems to be taken for granted. Without
knowing it, we have a certain way of thinking about how things
should be. However, fashion has explored a new way, breaking the
common sense and conventions such as age, sex, and social class.
Without fearing change, I would like to create a new world. I feel
the future there."
Of the future, Yuichi would like to stay Europe, gain more
experience and try to improve his English. However, with finance
and Visa issues aside, the main concern is finding a job or good
opportunity to make his dream of running his own fashion label a
reality.
Interview by Nardip Singh
Photographer and Journalist specialising in art and fashion. Former editor of Unfolded Magazine.
Contact: nsb@nardip.com
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