For Spring/Summer 2016, mame chose the theme of "Alchemist." What inspires designer Maiko Kurokouchi? And what does she think the role of a designer is? We explore mame's current and future through her words.

--The theme for Spring/Summer 2016 is alchemy. Perhaps this is also a "beautiful image" of weaving together various materials and techniques in mame's own unique way. I heard that you traveled to New Mexico and Amami Oshima for this collection. How does visiting these places influence your creations?

We live in an age where there are so many ways to gather information. Even on your cell phone, you can quickly and easily find information that interests you. However, when you actually go to a place with the intention of seeing something, you sometimes discover something beyond what you were looking for.

It's often the small things you see that move you. For example, it might be a scene I see on the way to my destination, or a part of a prototype discarded in a trash can in the corner of a factory. I feel that the things you can only experience on-site are things you'll never encounter on a phone screen. In order to encounter those things, I make time to visit the actual site whenever possible.

To the people there, a part of a prototype might be an everyday sight, or something so insignificant that it would be thrown away, but for us, it can be an important clue for imagining a new design. It might inspire me to think, "I'd like to use this piece as part of a beautiful dress." As a designer, I'm always thinking about how to combine these puzzles. I'm always searching for the pieces that will complete the puzzle for my next creation, six months from now.

--Specifically, what kind of puzzle combinations did you discover for the 2016 Spring/Summer collection?

This season, I visited two locations for research: Amami Oshima in Kagoshima Prefecture and New Mexico. In each location, the puzzle was still incomplete; it was merely fragmented. Along the way, I saw milky-colored Satsuma ware in Kagoshima and learned about mud dyeing techniques on Amami Oshima. In New Mexico, I wondered what color combinations and techniques I could use to express the beautiful green landscapes. Drawing on these memories, I returned to Japan and spoke with artisans, discussing my desire to "create the colors of the scenery I have seen." This is how the 2016 Spring/Summer collection was completed.

--What kind of fashion do you envision for women at mame in the future?

This has remained unchanged since the brand was founded, but I believe that independent women have their own unique challenges to face in a variety of settings, both on and off the job. I want to create clothes that give those women the encouragement they need. I believe that is the role of the mame brand.

Back to 1/2.