On April 20th, we spoke with Sueo Irie, designer of IRIE, who visited Japan for the France Week campaign held at Isetan Shinjuku. Irie trained under Hiroko Koshino and moved to France. After serving as an assistant at Kenzo Takada's atelier, he became an in-house designer at Studio V. His simple yet assertive pieces have long been beloved by Parisian women. I heard you return to Japan once a year. That's right. I've been living in Paris for 40 years, and I return to Japan once or twice a year. These days, it's no longer enough to just say "this is the trend in Paris," and Japan is attracting a lot of attention in Paris. What do you think is the appeal of Japan from a French perspective? It's the exquisite balance between modern and traditional, isn't it? With Akihabara, Aoyama, Kamakura, and Kyoto, it's a place where you can find everything.
By the way, when I return to Japan, the first place I go to is Azabu-Juban. It has a great blend of Japanese and modern styles, and I can naturally return to the Japanese atmosphere while sipping tea at the cafe (laughs).

-- Among the items being sold exclusively in Japan at Isetan Shinjuku this time are some with a French flag motif.

That's right. It's delivered from Paris, so it's a no-brainer. But the tricolor colors are made minimal and modern by the cut, right? Then there's the rose pattern inspired by Edith Piaf's "La Vie en Rose." There are tops with sequins on the chest and wrap dresses.

-- The colors of the polka dot items are also chic.

I love polka dots, so I always wear them. Even with trends, I value the stance of "This is what Irie is."

-- Even simple cut-and-sew pieces have an Irie feel.

Personally, I like the style of a woman wearing her boyfriend's traditional button-down shirt with a couple of buttons undone and a necklace, but even if that looks good in Paris, it might not look quite right in Tokyo, right? (laughs) So I don't like forcing it on others.

In Paris, I ride my scooter around every day. I add spice to my daily life in Paris with the atmosphere I feel.

-- Even in Japan, there are more and more women who are incorporating trends while establishing their own style.

That's true. Even if neon colors are trendy, I don't wear neon from head to toe. I wear neon earrings, for example, and incorporate them skillfully myself.

I'm not going to make it obvious that I'm wearing Irie, but I'd be happy if people could wear it in a variety of different ways, depending on who wears it.

I'm a feminist (laughs), but I think people who value their everyday lives are wonderful and fashionable after all. Even if you're busy, you might find time to go to an exhibition you really want to see, or enjoy dinner with friends. Having a variety of interests, enjoying life, and breathing in the air of the world can all lead to a great sense of fashion.