2024.06.18
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.
"It was around that time that stylist Kan Fuchigami offered to assist me if I continued with the brand. I felt that I had to seize this momentum. Also, considering my personality, if I didn't take the plunge now, I might never start such a brand. I wanted to gain various experiences while I was still young, so I decided to continue the brand after graduation.
"Since then, I have relied on Fuchigami for styling brand looks. After graduation, I felt that the knowledge I gained at school alone wasn't enough. I wanted to deepen my understanding by working in actual production settings. Hence, I spent about two years working at a clothing production company while continuing the brand.
"The following year after the Asia Fashion Collection, Vancouver Fashion Week was looking for new brands, and they reached out to me through Instagram. This experience was also a significant event for the brand."
The Origin of the Brand Name "463 no Gettsu"
Many might be curious about the origin of the brand name YONLOKSAN. It's related to Aoi Niikuni's long-time love for baseball. Let's delve into the thoughts behind the brand name."The brand name comes from the baseball term '463 no Gettsu,' which refers to a double play from second base to shortstop to first base.
"Since childhood, influenced by my grandfather, I watched professional baseball on TV. I particularly admired Hirokazu Ibata, a former player for the Chunichi Dragons. Despite making '463 no Gettsu' look easy, interviews revealed the immense efforts behind his plays. I was drawn to that and adopted the play's name.
"I also felt that baseball doesn't have a stylish image. I wanted to change that perception by creating clothes that are never considered 'uncool.'"
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