Iris Jeanson: What was your approach for this collection ?

Mitsuru Nishizaki: This season, we’re very proud of what we’ve created because everything is original. The main idea was to explore the joy of being wrapped up in clothes. To feel light and happy about it. We also used high quality fabrics and we were able to use a lot of it. That is what defines luxury for us.

I J: How does your Japanese origins influence and nourish your work ?

M N: My Japanese culture inspires me in the way they traditionally make clothing like the kimonos. A square shape, where there is no useless fabric, just a very clear pattern which can be adapted to everyone and brings you so much freedom. The quality of the fabric they use also inspires me. In Japan, the same nice fabric stays in the family through many generations. I deeply connect with the traditional Japanese making of clothing, for instance, in this collection I also imagined the clothes from square shapes.

I J: In your opinion, what characterizes the Ujoh model ?

M N: It’s not really a defined type, but when we’re doing a casting and I see people with their specific personality, I try to picture how it would connect with the Ujoh clothes. It’s a feeling, it could be a man or woman, gender doesn’t really matter. That’s also why we put men’s clothes on women. There’s always a feeling of Ujoh models but I think it’s more about the personality. When someone’s personality strikes me, I think that it could be interesting to see what Ujoh would look like on that person.

I J: What are your personal inspirations ?

M N: That goes back to when I was working at Yohji Yamamoto, I used to look a lot at old photographs and I’ll get inspired by all the different pictures of workers and different types of people normally living and how they would dress. Usually, I don’t really name a specific photographer for my inspirations but this time I felt like Bruce’s photos were deeply connected with my visions of drapes and that nomade feeling. I visually get inspired by many things but more the pictures of old lifestyle photographers. I think it’s very interesting to see how the clothes evolved and how they were used back then.

I J: How do you see the evolution of your brand in the next few years ?

M N: In this show there were many models coming from different countries and cultures. Regarding the sales department, we are currently having more and more shops around the world. I think that can truly help me to get even more ideas in a worldwide way and  find different inspiration about what’s happening everywhere in the world.

I J: What motivates you to keep on creating new collections ?

M N: My motivation never gets low, I don’t know why but I get so many ideas. Especially with the size of the Ujoh brand, it isn’t huge, so I want to do so many things but I’m not able to do everything for one collection. My ideas that are left, I will just use them in another one. I’m constantly motivated to keep on creating.

Post-Show Backstage Interview of @ujoh_nishizaki by @irisjeanson for Ujoh’s Fall / Winter 2024 Collection.

Backstage photos by @chiara_bruschini_ph