The feelings embedded in objects that captivate people. The journey from the birth of a brand to its growth. "Creators VOICE" started with the desire to "let the creators of those brands tell their stories in their own words as much as possible." By looking at the true faces of creators that are not usually seen, we would like to consider the reasons behind the "richness" that is felt through the five senses created through design.

Our first guest is Hiroki Nakamura, Creative Director of visvim.


visvim is created by creative director Hiroki Nakamura, who has received high acclaim both in Japan and internationally.
The "visvim -the Gallery-" event, held from April 8th to 21st at Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 1st floor promotion area, showcased unique and distinctive products crafted using traditional Japanese techniques and finished by skilled artisans, generating a great deal of positive feedback.
This time, we delve into the "stance" of Mr. Nakamura, who has been continuously exploring "happiness" and timeless "beauty" through his craftsmanship since the brand's inception.

First, let's look at the "visvim -the Gallery-" event.




visvim's Spring/Summer 2015 collection expressed individuality through hand-drawn graphics and hand-stitching. The main items from the collection are displayed alongside previously unrevealed sources of inspiration, presented in a gallery-like format.


—What message did you want to convey through this concept store, Mr. Nakamura?

For example, when I see the form of a plant or a car and think, "That's nice," the process of analyzing what attracts me to it is connected to my creative process. Delving deeper into that is the essence of my design philosophy. This season's collection was an exploration of how I could add depth to the items by reflecting my own personality as the creator. That's why I hope that by sharing private photos and illustrations, people will be able to appreciate the appeal of the clothes even more. And now, I've been given this opportunity to put together this store.



--Mr. Nakamura's style is to embody his own emotions in the form of clothing. What kind of story was behind each of the photographs and illustrations exhibited this time?

Two illustrations of my wife that I drew and one that she drew of me, a photo of my studio taken with a camera I modified myself, a photo of my beloved car, a 1933 Ford, a fox I happened to encounter in Karuizawa... I've captured scenes that are particularly memorable to me. These little things are what make me rich, and I project the "joy" and "excitement" that wells up from within into my clothes every time.



—What are you thinking about or what's on your mind right now?

For example, the vase displayed next to the cash register. I found it at an antique market, liked it, and bought it, but I still don't quite understand what attracted me to it... I think there will be some sudden "realizations" that pop into my head in the future, and those might lead to my next idea. I would be happy if people could relate to my designs and creations, even just a little.

(KEIICHIRO MIYATA)

(PHOTO/FUKAMIZU KEISUKE)

Hiroki Nakamura
Born in 1971.
Representative of Cubism. Creative Director of visvim. Launched the brand visvim in 2000. Its collections, centered on footwear, have received high praise from overseas. Subsequently, it expanded into a total brand handling clothing, accessories, and fragrances. It aims to create products that excel in both design and function by delving into elements from design, materials, patterns, and production processes.

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