ITS (International Talent Support), a fashion contest held annually in Trieste, Italy, serves as a stepping stone for new designers. This year, four Japanese designers were named finalists in this contest, which attracts the attention of discerning fashion professionals. To commemorate this, the TOKYO Liberation Zone on the second floor of the main building of Isetan Shinjuku will be exhibiting and selling the works of seven past ITS finalists from September 27th.

FASHION HEADLINE interviewed the three finalists, who are still ecstatic, about their winning works and their enthusiasm for the new products they will be presenting in this project.

--What is your profile leading up to becoming an ITS finalist? After graduating from Kyoritsu Women's University with a degree in clothing and textiles, I enrolled at Esmod Tokyo. While there, I studied under Yamagata Yoshikazu and Mikio Sakabe of writtenafterwards. After graduating, I worked at writtenafterwards as an intern design assistant under Yamagata for a little over a year. After that, I spent a year at coconogacco, a school run by Yamagata, pursuing what I wanted to create, and then applied to this year's ITS. I was double nominated in both the artwork and jewelry categories.

--What was the trigger for you to apply?

It was my meeting with Yamagata and Sakabe. I'd always looked up to them since I was a student; they were well-known among young designers, and I found their worldview fascinating. For example, color. I think I was influenced by their sense of color combinations and my sense of "cuteness." So, after interning during my student days, I entered "coconogacco", and then I wanted to try out my own creations, so I applied to ITS.

--Tokizawa-san studied clothing at university and vocational school. You changed course from making clothes to applying to ITS in the accessories category. Was there a turning point in your style leading up to this point?

There were two major turning points. The first was in my second year at ESMOD, when I was working on my graduation collection, and the things my classmates around me were making changed completely, and I thought I had changed too. The second was after I entered "coconogacco". 」。

What was the inspiration for the work "sticky jewelry" that you showed at ITS?

Actually, it was a Pip Elekiban (laughs). I have a hunched back and stiff shoulders, so it was something that was familiar to me. I would be embarrassed if other people saw it, but I thought, what if you could stick it on your skin like an accessory and it looked cute even if people looked at it? Inspired by this feeling that "everyday life is precious," I pursued it to the end and created a work.

--What were your impressions and inspirations from participating in ITS?


I had heard rumors from my seniors who had experienced ITS at "coconogacco" that "overseas is even more amazing," and I feel like I now understand what they meant. Specific things like how to display the space and how to present it, as well as being able to actually experience the unique sensibilities that are overseas, were very stimulating. Among the other applicants, I was intrigued by Mayako Kano, the Grand Prize winner in the fashion category. I was also impressed by how happy I was to speak with her and discover that she shares my same sense of what's cute and beautiful.

--What are your future goals for your work?

I've always been a clothing designer, so I'd like to continue making clothes. This time, I won in the accessories and jewelry category, so I wasn't able to make clothes, but my goal is to eventually create a complete collection of clothing, accessories, and small items.



The pop-up shop "ITS@TOKYO Kaihoku" at the Isetan Shinjuku TOKYO Kaihoku, which opens on September 27th, will feature Tokizawa's award-winning work, "sticky jewelry," as well as a selection of new pieces created specifically for the pop-up shop. The famous Pip Elekiban has been transformed into luxurious accessories! We hope you'll take a look at these art accessories, born from the unexpected moments of everyday life. :

【Event Information】
Title: ITS＠TOKYO Liberation Zone - Incubating Up-and-Coming Designers-
Dates: September 27th to October 4th
Venue: Isetan Shinjuku Main Building 2F = Center Park / TOKYO Liberation Zone

【Designer Appearance】
■September 27th: Nakazato Shuko, Shimizu Masanori, Tokisawa Chinami
■September 28th: Tokisawa Chinami
■September 29th: Katakai Hazuki
■October 1st: Shimizu Masanori, Tokisawa Chinami
■October 2nd: Murakami Ryota, Shimizu Masanori
■October 4th: Shimizu Masanori, Tokisawa Chinami

※Due to unforeseen circumstances, the store visit schedule may be canceled or changed.
In addition, the designers may be absent at certain times of the day.

辻 あい子