This Japanese designer made up a name with two major inspirations – his grandfather and the conceptual art movement Dadaism. Also Post-World War I: a rebellious period marked by contradiction where crafting was not there to be tasted but to generate questions about social structures, the role of the artist community and the purpose of art itself; which influenced and guided this designer to get his signature. “People don’t have to follow social norms or maintain the conventional styles to play safe.”
Your family introduced you to fashion. Have you always enjoyed it? Any memories from your childhood?
As a kid I would always help my grandfather when he was working on his embroideries. Not sure if it is because of that but I would love dressing myself up at a really early age. I wouldn't like my parents’ picks, I would instead do it for myself because I enjoyed re-making clothes I already had.
You like the people wearing your designs to express their identity. How would you describe yours?
As I am getting older my style gets less intense but I am wearing who I am.
In the beginning you were showing off your designs at Tokyo FW, but it’s been 3 years already that you switched for Paris FW. Has it been a better idea? What does one have that the other misses?
Yes, of course. I’ve been showing my collections in Tokyo. Fortunately our brand recognition got better but then ironically I kind of started to feel less challenging and competitive to keep showing merely here. In addition to that, the timing of the Tokyo collection season is a little off compared to rest of the cities, which makes it harder for us to show international buyers and media. In Paris, everything is way more universal and major people from all over the world will come to see. I wanted to challenge myself from the scratch in such environment, And also wanted to have Christian Dada widerly known internationally. Paris Fashion Week takes place earlier than rest of the cities, and buyers have bigger budgets there. World’s best journalists will always be there. These are the things you cannot see happening in Tokyo.
What would you say, out of your experiences, has taught you the most?
Growing up with my grandfather, who is self-taught but very skilled embroidery technician, showed me to have a good work ethic and hardworking spirit.
A boutique in Singapore was recently opened to offer a Christian Dada experience and not only the clothes themselves. Is that a key element for you in the brand? What else is?
I’m bored with our current flagship shop where nothing happens but showing my designs. Nothing less and nothing more. To make changes I wanted to apply Dadaism concept to both Tokyo and Singapore stores. Even to our brand itself. There is no other brand from Tokyo who joined the umbrella group and shows in Paris at my age. What I want to say is, even the business formations don’t have to follow social norms or maintain the conventional styles to play safe. Dadaism is all about questioning traditional meanings and breaking conventional styles to produce new values.
Where would you bring the brand at a later time?
My priority is in Asia at this moment but it would be great to expand into the West too.
Sometimes, ‘love at first sight’ does happen between designer and celebrity. Have you personally met Lady Gaga – since she has worn your garments in a few occasions?
No, I haven’t. Everybody keeps asking me the same question but I don’t know if it means anything!
