Spotlight on Designer "YONLOKSAN" Who Also Designs YOASOBI's Costumes: Interview with Aoi Niikuni

The brand "YONLOKSAN" was launched while still studying at the Vantan Design Institute and won the grand prize at the "Asia Fashion Collection" in autumn/winter 2021. Soon after, it gained prominence and was invited to "Vancouver Fashion Week."

In recent years, the next-generation designer Aoi Niikuni, who also created stage costumes for the internationally acclaimed artist YOASOBI, has been making waves. We conducted an in-depth interview to explore her unique world.

I Thought I Needed to Ride This Momentum

First, let's dive into the history of the YONLOKSAN brand. The trigger for starting the brand was a part of the curriculum at a vocational school.

"I attended the Osaka campus of the Vantan Design Institute. The school had a policy that encouraged each student to have their own brand while studying. So, I started a predecessor brand to YONLOKSAN, called '463', as part of my curriculum.

"During that time, a teacher suggested I participate in the Asia Fashion Collection. Thankfully, I won the grand prize at that event, which became a turning point for me.