ACUOD by CHANU

Designer

CHANWOO LEE

Category

Unisex / Clothing

Brand information / About the designer

―What inspired you to become a fashion designer? Describe developments leading up to the brand launch.

Since I was little I always loved fashion, but never thought of making it as my living. My intention of coming to japan was not to study fashion but was to just come and see what it offered me. While studying Japanese at a language school in japan, I realized fashion was my true passion. After my graduation, I entered Tokyo Mode Gakuen to study fashion for the first time. Through studying and watching various shows and exhibitions, I started to imagine having my own brand. From then, I have done several internships and started to join contests. With the awards and evaluations from the contests as my motivation, I have been preparing to start my own line and this year for the first time we had our own exhibition.

―What is the brand’s concept? What do you want to communicate through fashion designing?

Our name ACUOD stands for “Ace Creation Unisex Original Dress” and is also the word DOUCA（同化）in Japanese spelled backwards. DOUKA in Japanese means to assimilate or to synchronize. The opposite of DOUKA（同化）is IKA (異化), which means to dissimulate. Thus, ACUOD embodies both qualities of assimilation and dissimulation.
DOUKA(同化) in Japanese, means to incorporate different substance and to recreate something new. On the other hand, IKA（異化）means to change something mundane and normal to something unique and unusual.
I want my line to have no binderies of Woman/Men, Street/High fashion, Casual/Formal, but instead “assimilate (DOUKA)” with each other and synchronize with the surrounding culture while incorporating other concepts from various genres and finally “dissimulate (IKA)” to a new value.
My personal icon is G-DRAGON from BIGBANG. I love the way he incorporates music and fashion without being caught up by one genre or style. When I design my clothes, I always imagine a person who incorporates unisex cool clothes despite of it being street wear or high fashion.
My clothes are often regarded as being though and hard but I want all kinds of people, from a high fashion crowd to those who have a more cute and casual style, to enjoy my line. And if they feel happy and confident in my clothes, there is nothing more that can make me happier as a designer.

―What is your source of inspiration in creating fashion? What is your process of developing a design concept?

I gain inspiration from everything I see and experience from my everyday life. This could be movies or anime sometimes, or it could be styles from previous eras. When I make my clothes, I first put my voice into the inspiration and create a storyline, and then I finally start designing.

―Who are your current stockists (areas, retail formats, etc.)? Describe the typical followers of your brand.

My line is now available through boutiques in Japan. I feel that many of the fans of my brand are people who enjoy life with a wide interest not only in fashion but also in music and art as well. The people who wear my clothes often inspire me. They are always aware on what is happening and incorporate anything that’s cool despite of it being women’s or men’s wear.

About 2017 S/S collection

―Why have you chosen Amazon Fashion Week TOKYO as the venue for presenting your collection?

As a designer based in Japan, participating in Amazon Fashion Week TOKYO with my very own brand has always been a dream of mine. I am thankful for all the people who helped me realized this dream of mine.
Through Amazon Fashion Week TOKYO, this will give me an opportunity to spread the story of my brand to the world, and I am also excited for this to become a chance to have more people to wear and enjoy my line. As a designer there is nothing happier than having people who support and most importantly, enjoy my work.

―What is the concept / image for your brand’s 2017 S/S season?

My theme for this season is to “Assimilate with Shirts”
The basic shape of a button-down shirt has not changed for almost 200 years since 19th century. This, I think, is because while having the function of protecting the body from wind and the sun, the shape of a shirt is designed with perfect aesthetics. This shirt not only assimilates with jackets and accessories, but with culture as well. ACUOD by CHANU is a Mode-Street brand and I think shirts are the best clothing item to represent that. Furthermore, I am planning to make shirts as one of the core items of my line, thus making it the focus piece of my runway show for Amazon Fashion Week TOKYO 2017 S/S.

―What is your vision for your show / installation?

We will have a Live DJ performance with an original track. I wanted to make my show more than a normal catwalk but to combine the culture and world that I love. We are preparing something that the audience would hopefully enjoy.

Future

―What are your brand’s future outlook and goal?

I hope to expand outside Japan in the future. Amazon Fashion Week TOKYO will be a chance for me to send out my vision to the world. I would be really happy if this will be an opportunity for people around the world, regardless of their gender, to know and come to love my clothes.

About TOKYO

―What does Tokyo represent for you?

Japan is often associated with being polite, discrete and modest. However I think Tokyo can be flashy and lively as well. And Tokyo is concentrated with so much things and information from around the world, thus I think of Tokyo as being a condensed version of the world. My life in Tokyo is filled with excitement and fun.

―Which parts / sites of Tokyo do you like most? Why?

I love Harajuku, Omotesando, Aoyama, Daikanyama, Shibuya and Ginza. Tokyo is a very fashion forward city that is always filled with excitement. While Harajyuku is colorful and young, Daikanyama is mode and fashionable. It’s really interesting to see different kinds of tastes intertwined in one city.

―What are your favorite / recommended shops (of any genres, e.g. fashion stores, homeware stores, food services), facilities and sites?

I personally love going to Odaiba. I love how its current and trendy but still can be in touch with nature.