At Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 1st floor, the seasonal accessories and jewelry section will be packed with new hat promotions and order events from late October. Each brand offers items that showcase the designer's vision.

This time, Isetan Men's Net is conducting interviews with the designers of various hat brands over six installments, focusing on those launching in October and November. The fifth installment features an interview with Masako, the designer of MAUSAU . Please read this interview and then visit the order event.

MAUSAU Autumn/Winter Hat Collection

□November 14th (Wednesday) - 20th (Tuesday)

□ Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 1st Floor = Seasonal Goods and Accessories

---First, could you tell us what inspires you to make hats?
When I first visited Rome, I was captivated by the Colosseum's precarious yet imposing appearance.
"How do you make a knit hat that's delicate and fragile, yet has a sense of weight, like the Colosseum?" My subsequent struggles and creations led me to develop my own unique method for making knit hats.
I imagine what kind of hat would allow me to feel the same sensations as the landscapes and atmosphere I encounter on my travels, or what it would be like to express the cobblestone streets in a landscape using knitting. I then create my pieces by combining colors and translating the texture and weight of certain objects into yarn.

---What do you find most enjoyable about hat making?
I create my designs while constantly asking myself how I can express the essence of Mausau within the limited canvas of a hat.
I feel the joy of creation when, after repeatedly remaking and refining a piece, I finally create something that surpasses what I had envisioned in my mind and heart. Also, when I reunite with a hat that a customer has worn for over 10 years and nurtured themselves, I truly feel that continuing to create was worthwhile.


---Please tell us about your commitment and passion for manufacturing.
We are committed to the warmth of human hands, and we complete everything by hand, from dyeing the main threads to finishing the entire process ourselves.
I enjoy combining various colors and materials to create unique textures. For example, I might combine cotton yarns with different twists, or yarns of the same color but dyed using different methods.
I believe that by carefully knitting each stitch, I can create pieces that have a unique look, warmth, and weight, surpassing the realm of typical handmade items.

Next, I want to challenge myself with works that go beyond the realm of hats.