The Atelier Where Ideals Begin

What is your "ideal"?

Animal Crossing, Studio Ghibli, etc. I've been playing Animal Crossing since the Nintendo 64 and, of course, on the DS, and it's become an ideal lifestyle for me. In Animal Crossing, there are people who make clothes—or should I say, animals?—as well as shopkeepers and coffee masters. You can write letters to the residents and become friends with them, and I really admire that. Studio Ghibli, like Kiki's Delivery Service, also have characters who live in a bakery, tending the shop, living a calm and relaxed life while working hard at their jobs. I really want to be like those people. There's no bigger dream than being surrounded by the things you love and being able to be creative. Everyone in a small community doing what they love, and that leads to connections with those around them—that's truly the ideal.

*Animal Crossing: A game where you can live freely in a world inhabited by fictional animals.
Live in the in-game village, talk to your neighbors, shop, write letters, and do whatever you want.

Does this "ideal" begin with this atelier...?

That's right. Distilling what I wanted to do led to opening a shop, and that's what I'm going to do in this atelier.




Ever since I was little, I've wanted to make clothes and run a shop, and I've lived my life with that goal in mind. I'm a twin, and when I was little, I used to play shop with my grandmother and twin sister. I was the shop owner, and my grandmother and sister were the customers. We'd put prices on vegetables attached with Velcro, give them fake money, and have them come and buy them. Ever since then, I've loved the process of running a shop, where you have someone come and hand over the package.
Even now, I tie up ordered products with ribbons and write a message on them before handing them over. I really like and cherish the idea of communicating with the recipient when giving a gift. I may be a fashion designer, but I love more than just making clothes; I also love the process that follows. So, from now on, I'd like to offer more suggestions for what happens after the clothes are made, like how to wear them and how to see them through to the end. I want to be involved in everything from making clothes to sending them off, and that starts with this atelier.
Although, technically, we haven't started yet. I want to make this a place where more and more customers will want to come and see me.
I may tend to dream about the lives depicted in movies, games, and fantasies, or stories, rather than reality, but I believe they can actually happen in real life. So, I've been talking with friends about naming my atelier to reflect that, but I'm still struggling and haven't found the right name. I think something like three or four hiragana characters would be good, something with a slightly dreamy feel.

Is there a transition from the "Ririnka" atelier to the "Ritsuko Karita" atelier?

I've been working with clothes for a long time, so I'll continue to make clothes, but that's true to some extent. I felt like I had to design a certain way because it was "Ririnka." But the atelier is changing, and I'm turning 27, so I started to think it might be a good idea to run a brand based on my own ideas, which are more realistic. Also, while "Ririnka" was a brand that developed a unique worldview, I started to want clothes that could be worn in everyday life. And creating clothes every season as "Ririnka" would mean a lot of changes, and I felt that doing that wouldn't suit either the atelier here or my own ideas.




Also, recently I've been making more friends who are creators outside of apparel, such as those in the fields of accessories and products. They have lineups that symbolize their brands, like rings and wallets, so I'm a little inspired by that.
Specifically, at "ritsuko karita" I'm planning to name the clothes "Plain" and "Rich" and create them along two axes. I want to continue with the "Plain" line and continue to propose my own ideas about basics. However, rather than just doing basics, I would like to design items that are easy to wear on a daily basis, such as shirts, blouses, dresses and pants, in my own way. On the other hand, "rich" is more particular than plain. While my first collection mainly focused on patterns, each season I create pieces with a slightly more striking and dense feel, combining colors and fabrics that inspire me. I'm also conscious of creating pieces that can be worn in addition to plain.

So your crafting and your atelier are connected.

Yes, I'm always thinking about "what kind of clothes should I make and where?" But to me, making clothes isn't something special. Creating things and drawing designs are habits that are just as necessary as eating or reading. So, while an "atelier" might seem special to others, rather than a crafting atelier, I would like people to think of it as a place to share food, clothing, and shelter as "ristuko karita." As I propose various ideas, I would like people to think of my atelier as a part of their own lives.


≫Continue to Vol. 4 of Life in the Atelier.