Designer

Mizuki Ueda

Category

Women’s / Ready to wear

Brand information / About the designer

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

I began my career as a sales associate and became a designer at the age of 20. After launching my own brand, I founded ENFÖLD in 2012 and my third brand, nagonstans, in 2018.

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

“Somewhere You Belong” Everyone has a place where they feel in harmony with themselves. We travel in search of that “somewhere” — a place apart from our everyday lives. There, we open ourselves to what we encounter, trusting our senses, surrendering, and finding balance. In that process, we quietly evolve into a new version of ourselves. This collection expresses clothing for such places — where the everyday and the extraordinary intersect. Free from the roles, responsibilities, and expectations that come with titles, positions, and the image others hold of us, we return to our true selves. I would be delighted if these clothes could be chosen for those moments — the moments when you simply enjoy being yourself.

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

nagonstans draws inspiration from sensations experienced in nature and from physical activities such as mountain climbing, snow trekking, skiing, cycling, and running. Our concept is not only to create pieces that can be worn in these environments, but also to elevate them into conceptual fashion. Each collection is built by delving deeply — from multiple angles — into the distinctive features, atmospheres, and emotions of activities we have personally experienced or aspire to try.

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

nagonstans customers often strike a graceful balance between work and private life, embracing their lifestyle as something to be enjoyed in itself. In their daily lives, they value moments when they can be “off duty” or free from the roles and expectations placed upon them, and fashion becomes a natural extension of that freedom. Many of them enjoy incorporating color and pattern into their styling, choosing nagonstans as a way to express their individuality and sense of self.

── Which brands, designers, styles and cultures have had the most impact on your fashion designing, and why?

As an aspiring stylist, I closely observed the work and personal styling of a wide range of stylists, both in Japan and abroad. I was deeply influenced by the way they could take the same garment and create a style that felt entirely different from the world envisioned by the brand.

About 2026 SS collection

── Why have you chosen Tokyo (Rakuten Fashion Week TOKYO) as the venue for presenting your collection?

With the idea of presenting through a show in mind, I believe that by shaping my thoughts, messages, and vision into a single cohesive story, I can create with a stronger sense of intent. This approach, in turn, leads to the growth and evolution of the brand.

── What is the concept / image for your brand’s 2026 SS season?

nagonstans 2026 Spring/Summer Collection “Mountain Trail” Tracing a mountain trail embraced by fresh greenery, a gentle breeze passes through, and the summer light softly illuminates alpine plants adorned with morning dew. Sheer rock faces, sharply exposed, and the rugged contours of distant cliffs quietly speak of nature’s severity. The ridgeline curves gracefully, while the sky stretches endlessly, clear and blue. From the summit, a sea of clouds unfolds in serene majesty. This collection was born from the quietude felt when walking along a mountain path, the richness of ever-changing scenery, and the sense of harmony with summer mountains. For this season, nagonstans draws inspiration from sports that pursue freedom of movement— cycling, aerobics, and trail running. Lightweight materials, cuts designed for mobility, and functional details refined into minimal forms create garments suited for both natural landscapes and urban settings. The sharpness and smoothness of rocky surfaces, cliffs, and ridgelines— these contrasting forms are expressed through three-dimensional pattern cutting, capturing the silhouettes nature carves. The color palette evokes early-summer mountains alive with layers of green, the warmth of a solitary mountain lodge,

── What is your vision for your show / installation?

We plan to stage the show on a 100-meter running track, enclosed by wooden arches, as a way to bring the essence of the “Mountain Trail” into an urban setting.

Future

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

Through Tokyo Collection, which showcases the diversity, creativity, and expressive power of Japanese brands to the world, we aspire to be one of the brands that energizes Japan’s fashion scene. Our goal is to continue building a world unique to nagonstans and to join the ranks of brands recognized on the global stage.

About TOKYO

── What does Tokyo represent for you?

This city has now been my home longer than the place where I was born. No matter where I go, the moment I return to Tokyo, I feel a quiet sense of relief — a feeling of truly coming home.

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

I spend much of my time around Yoyogi Park, Uehara, and the Yoyogi-Hachiman area. Uehara is home to many wonderful restaurants, and I visit Hachiman Shrine every year for the New Year and local festivals. I also go running in Yoyogi Park. Although it’s in the heart of the city, the area feels slightly tucked away, with a calm atmosphere. I love how it offers both trendy new spots and long-standing, time-honored establishments.

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

Gokirakutei (Yoyogi-Uehara) A long-established okonomiyaki restaurant where everything on the menu is delicious, offering the comforting atmosphere of visiting a relative’s home. My children love it too, and we go there regularly. It’s also a place where I often run into friends and acquaintances from the industry.

Designer
Mizuki Ueda
Category
Women’s / Ready to wear