Fashion brand Candy Stripper, which celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, has collaborated with Nikaido Fumi to create the brand "FUMI NIKAIDO "Roots" Candy Stripper," which will be running a pop-up shop at the TOKYO Kaihoku (open until September 8th) on the second floor of the Isetan Shinjuku Main Building. Nikaido describes this special collaboration as "my roots. This is what makes me excited," and we spoke with Candy Stripper designer Yoshie Itabashi about it. --This time, the brand name includes the word "roots." Why did you choose "roots" for this collaboration? Nikaido Fumi (hereinafter "Nikaido"): For this collaboration, I created something that I truly love and want. My inspiration came from the feeling I had at Gold Disc (formerly Kentos Okinawa), a live music venue in Okinawa where I grew up and which I remember fondly from my first visit as a junior high school student. The sukajan jacket and denim jumpsuit are men's items, while the old American dress, back-printed T-shirt, and denim circular skirt are women's items. My mother spent her youth in Okinawa in the 1970s, a time when American culture, Okinawan culture, and Japanese culture mixed together. That's why the items are a mix of traditional Japanese elements and old Americana. Even the small details, like the embroidered pattern on the sukajan jacket and the goldfish design on the collar of the dress, express this blended feel. --Ms. Itabashi, this year marks the 20th anniversary of the brand's debut. Have you had a chance to reflect on when you started the brand and your own roots? Yoshie Itabashi (hereinafter, Itabashi): Yes. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the brand's debut, so it was an opportunity to revisit "Candy Stripper." I created my 20th anniversary collection, "CANDY CANDY CANDY," with the aim of creating a collection filled with all of my favorite things. When I thought back to my roots, I realized that the things I like haven't changed at all since I was a child. I love the girly world of rabbits, teddy bears, ruffles, and heart motifs. I also like edgy styles that contrast with that. This contradictory feeling is also embodied in the brand name "Candy Stripper." The word "stripper" evokes the idea of stripping off candy wrappers, likening them to clothing. The "candy" in the name evokes the flavors of candy as it changes in your mouth, while the "stripper" evokes the image of a strong-willed woman. These two elements combine to create the image of the Candy Stripper woman. Like our concept of "NO RULE, NO GENRE, NO AGE," I want people to enjoy the style they love, regardless of their age. Nikaido: I also feel that this collaboration is a collaboration between Okinawan culture and the fashion culture that Yoshie and her colleagues have created in Harajuku.

--Today, you're wearing a denim bondage jumpsuit with rolled-up hems and Christian Louboutin pointed high heels. I heard that "unisex" is one of the themes this time around. What are some key points to styling?

Nikaido: Even when wearing men's-inspired clothes, I always try to incorporate something feminine. For example, wearing a camisole underneath. I think simple men's clothes have the potential to change their look depending on how they're styled. Clothes made for women are made with the intention of making women look beautiful, so they're feminine to everyone. However, I'm fascinated by how to wear work clothes, or clothes for working men, like sukajan jackets and denim overalls in a feminine way. It's quite challenging, but I think there are ways to style men's clothes that only women can pull off.

Itabashi: I think that sensibility has something in common with the Candy Stripper brand concept. Fumi's enthusiasm for this collaboration touched both myself and the staff, boosting our morale. At the same time, we created each piece with a focus on the details and silhouette, with the desire to create something that would truly satisfy Fumi.

In the second half, we asked her about the commonalities between fashion and film, and her thoughts on the future. To be continued on 2/2.