■Collaboration with Momoiro Clover Z, the muse who heralds spring
In preparation for the collaboration, Kusaka had the opportunity to discuss the design with the members. He valued his impressions of them and used music videos and live performance footage to expand on the image of this couture collection.
For leader Kanako Momota, he felt that "with her dignified presence, it would be best to avoid anything extraneous," so he designed a pure white empire dress. The delicately undulating ruffles are adorned with cotton lace with a clover motif.
For Ayaka Sasaki, who wore Pink House clothes as a child, he used an abundance of French lace to create a dress with a gentle, nostalgic feel. On the day of the shoot, she brought a Pink House bear keychain. The bear is a "gingham bear" that Kusaka designed in the 1990s, and he was touched by the fact that it has been cherished with love as time has passed. For Shiori Tamai, "She's the only member with short hair, so I created a gorgeous collar design that showcases her beautiful neckline." A pure white blouse and a clover-patterned jumper skirt create a sophisticated and elegant layered look. Regarding Momoka Ariyasu, the petite member of the group, "When I saw the phrase 'Little Giant' and her performance, I decided to create a voluminous, long dress. She's small but powerful, like a delicate flower. I felt it would suit her and she would pull it off." The skirt of the dress is flared in five tiers. A sash ribbon ties the waist, creating a well-defined silhouette. And for Reni Takagi, who requested pants during the initial meeting, I designed tiered pants that flared out toward the hem. Pairing it with a compact, puff-sleeved smock blouse, like a young child's, captures her girlish charm. "This time, I deliberately removed the 'color' from Momoclo. That's why I was able to express each member's individuality through the design. And it's couture, packed with the materials, silhouettes, and techniques that our brand has always valued, so that it's instantly recognizable as Pink House," said Kusaka. The project, which approaches the theme of "eternal femininity" in a variety of ways, will be held at the TOKYO Kaihoku Zone on the second floor of the Isetan Shinjuku Main Building (February 18th to March 3rd), before expanding to Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store (March 11th to 17th), Ginza Mitsukoshi (March 18th to 24th), and Isetan Closet Lucua 1100 (April 2nd to 7th). Some items will also be available for purchase online. Back to Part 1.