KEIKO NISHIYAMA

Designer

Keiko Nishiyama

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.

In my childhood, I found joy in drawing and creation. I was a bit of a strange child, often shooting videos by myself, making a magazine out of notebooks and newspapers on the back of a flyers, and even making imaginary friends to talk to and making music on my way home from school. My mother worked at a department store, so fashion was always close to me. When I saw fashion photographys taken by Kishin Shinoyama in elementary school, I imitated his style and styled myself every day on my way to school, and I began to aspire to be a fashion designer. I began my course designing in Tokyo and graduated from MA at London College of Fashion. After presented my collections during the London Fashion Week, I staretd my career to work for textile design. A first collaboration was conducted with brand FitFlop footwear.

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

Our label is synonymous of curiosity, mystery and Coexistence with nature. Our brand’s signature is the use of highly ornate textile and draping, which combines unexpected and philosophical elements of Europe and Tokyo, allowing the woman to enter in her private ‘Cabinet of curiosities’ overwhelmed by feelings.These are inspired by the Cabinet of curiosities and hand drawn by Keiko, onto her garments, which are crafted with Japanese fabrics.

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

“Prints are the brand’s signature – they are created and hand-drawn by me, inspired from the fundamental concept of the historic ‘Cabinet of Curiosities’. Also known as ‘Wonder Rooms’, The Cabinet of Curiosities were considered to be the ancestors of the museum.They would display encyclopaedic collections attempting to categorise and unveil stories about the wonders and oddities of the natural world.
I strive to recreate and improve the same idea focusing on nature’s beautiful imperfections. Nature is the core focus of her work. Each season, I brings a hybrid curiosity to life for a new story to tell – a unique print for a unique garment”

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

We have stockist from north japan, Hokkaido to south,in Kyusyu area. We are helding also pop up store in south, west Japan as well as North Japan

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

Since I was a child, I have been wearing brightly colored clothes, so I have been inspired by colors and paintings from overseas. Tatsuhiko Shibusawa’s books have had a great influence on the brand. Mark Dion’s conceptual art, which recreates the Cabinet of Curiosities, is very close to the space I want to express. I am also influenced by surrealism and aesthetic artists, Andre Breton, Piersly, and Unica Zürn. As for overseas brands, I was fascinated by the graphic and colorful worlds of KENZO, Dries Van Notten, and ANNASUI. I also admired McQueen and John Galliano. As for Japanese brands, I was inspired by KEITA MARUYAMA TSUMORI CHISATO, whose designers themselves create original prints when I was a student.

About 2025 S/S collection

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

I want to express KEIKO NISHIYAMA’s philosophy and worldview not only through clothing, but also through sound and video.

―What is the concept / image for your brand’s 2025 S/S season?

“Cosmographia” The universe has inspired human dreams and aspirations since ancient times. People connected the stars in the path of the sun to form constellations and create stories. Astrology, which originated in ancient Mesopotamia in the 2nd millennium BC, still spins stories that predict our personalities and what lies ahead. I have expressed these mysterious and enigmatic cosmographies and constellations through graphics and clothing.

Future

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

First of all, I want people in Japan to know about KEIKO NISHIYAMA’s prints and clothes, and experience the joy and richness of imagination. Since my starting point of inspiration is landscape gardens and Cabinet of curiosities from British and Europe, My goal is to participate in pop-up shops and exhibitions overseas in UK and Europe.

About TOKYO

―What does Tokyo represent for you?

For me, Tokyo is my hometown, the city where I was born and raised. I feel like I’ve been seeing new buildings, fashion, and trends since I was a child. Now, it’s a one-of-a-kind city with contradictory fashions, such as solid and cute, and all kinds of styles and brands. I feel that if you mix and style them, a free style that isn’t bound by any framework will be born.

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

Yoyogi Hachiman to Yoyogi Uehara area: Yoyogi Park is located here, and there are many cafes, restaurants, and vintage clothing stores, making it easy to get around on foot. Yanesen: A retro downtown area with old houses and many cafes, making it fun to stroll around.