Fashion designer Shinichiro Arakawa was born on October 6, 1966, in Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture.
Born into a family of tailors, he moved to France shortly after graduating from Tokai University. He studied design at Studio Berçot, a fashion school in Paris. In 1991, he moved to the UK and worked as an assistant to fashion designer Christopher Nemeth.
After graduating from Studio Berçot in 1992, Arakawa founded the brand Shinichiro Arakawa the following year. After making his debut at the Paris Collection, he continued to actively present his work from his base in Paris. In 1996, he opened an exclusive shop in the Marais district, and in 1997, he won a gold medal at the ANDAM competition, sponsored by the French Ministry of Culture.
Meanwhile, in Japan, he presented his first Tokyo Collection in Shimokitazawa in 1995, and has since relocated his base of operations to Japan. In 1998, he opened a shop in Harajuku, Tokyo. In 2000, he won the Mainichi Fashion Grand Prix Newcomer Award and the Shiseido Encouragement Award.
In 1997, Arakawa collaborated with Honda and released the "SPEED & CRAFT" collection. He remade original clothing with innovative ideas, such as tailoring loose jumpsuits into dresses, and transformed his motorcycle hobby into stunning pieces. This led to Arakawa subsequently developing a casual line featuring the Honda logo. In 2007, he launched the motorcycle wear line "SHINICHIRO ARAKAWA 2," offering riding wear that combines functionality and elegance.
In 2012, he collaborated with Nakahashi Mokko at the 5th "Japan Best Knit Selection." He presented panel pieces, which have become Arakawa's life's work, including dresses that can be folded flat like a kimono.