Japanese designers are making such remarkable achievements that it's easy to overestimate the current leadership of the Paris fashion industry. While veteran designers like COMME des GARÇONS, YOHJI YAMAMOTO, and ISSEY MIYAKE continue to thrive, mid-career designers like Sacai and kolor are showcasing bold, innovative approaches that strike an exquisite balance between creativity and business, raising expectations for even greater success. While attention is also focused on the next generation of Japanese designers, one up-and-coming brand that is steadily gaining strength is Kenta Matsushige, created by Kenta Matsushige. After winning the Kobe Fashion Contest while studying at Esmod Osaka, he went on to study at the Syndique Paris Couture School, run by the Paris Haute Couture Association. After gaining experience as an intern at renowned fashion houses such as Givenchy, Dior, and Nicholas Andreas Taralis, he won the Grand Prix at the Hyères International Fashion and Photography Festival in 2014 while working as a freelance designer. He then launched his own brand, Kenta Matsushige, and, with the cooperation of a Chanel haute couture workshop, created a spectacular debut with his Spring/Summer 2015 collection. At just 27 years old, he gives off an innocent and modest impression, saying, "I still get nervous when I'm interviewed," but his hidden passion is undeniable. We spoke to Matsushige about how he became a designer, why he's based in Paris, and his vision for the future.



--Have you been interested in clothes since you were a child?

No, to be honest, I was pretty unfashionable when I was in elementary school (laughs). I grew up in the countryside of Yamaguchi Prefecture, so it wasn't like I had access to everything I wanted. When I became a junior high school student, the popularity of sites like ZOZOTOWN increased my options, and I gradually became interested in clothes. I started attending a high school that was a little far away by train, and I was shocked when I saw imported brands in a select shop I stopped at on the way to school. It was around that time that I became seriously interested in fashion. I worked part-time jobs, buying pieces from brands like Krisvanassche and Martin Margiela.

Wearing their clothes deepened my interest in fashion, and I strongly felt that I wanted to work in the fashion industry. It was the only thing I wanted to do seriously, as I had never been able to stick with anything up until then.

My parents were so ignorant about fashion that they couldn't even recognize Givenchy, so they were against me going to fashion school, but thanks to some persuasion, I was able to enroll at Esmod Osaka.

--Did you have in mind working abroad, such as in Paris, even while you were a student?

I had a strong desire to do so. I think the reason I was drawn to Parisian and Belgian brands, whose modern yet respectful attitude toward tradition is reflected in their clothing, is because I have a nostalgic side to them. I applied for the Kobe Fashion Contest, which offered the opportunity to study fashion design in Paris, and luckily won, which allowed me to visit Paris, my dream city, at the age of 20.

--Since coming to Paris, you have gained experience working at many major fashion houses, and I imagine you have gained a lot from that.

Certainly, the classes at École des Syndiques and the experience working in the ateliers of excellent designers were invaluable. Of all the things I learned, the biggest thing was draping. Historically, the West has by far the most advanced technology in this area. The architectural designs that are the core of the brand are based on the draping techniques I developed in Paris.



--You started your life in Paris, where you learned a lot. After winning the Grand Prix at the Hyères International Fashion and Photography Festival, you launched your brand with the cooperation of Chanel's haute couture workshop, and things have been going smoothly. Did you struggle with language or cultural barriers as this was your first time living abroad?

A city with such a diverse mix of cultures and history is stimulating. Perhaps because I've always loved its nostalgic atmosphere, I didn't experience any culture shock and adjusted to life in Paris easily. After arriving in France, I attended a language school for four months and studied French at home by watching French films, but I don't feel like it was a struggle.

However, after arriving in France, I realized that my knowledge of fashion was simply unmatched. When I was interning at Dior, I saw a girl around 12 years old visiting the atelier. Her questions were as technical as those of an adult, and I was amazed. With fashion so close to home in the culture, it's no wonder that her sensibilities are sharpened. Once I began to realize that I couldn't compete with them in terms of knowledge, I decided to go back to Japan and try something new, rather than just imitating the European clothing manufacturing style that I admired.

Continued in the second part.