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Custom Wedding Dress & Kimono Upcycled Clothes | オーダーメイドウェディングドレス&着物ドレス

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/ Archives for Chie

Chie

29 weeks

February 3, 2011 By Chie

29 weeks! My husband and I snapped this photo with camera placed on an ironing board with a self-timer, so it’s a bit tilted to the side..sorry! The bump is getting bigger, and I think calling it a mountain is more fitting than a bump. Strange thing is though, I have not gained any weight for a month although the belly seems to be getting bigger. Not sure why.

I have a doctor’s appointment scheduled in a couple of days, and am excited to see the baby’s growth in ultrasound. After this appointment, the visit will be every 2 weeks, instead of every month. I feel like the end is near!

I am blessed with wonderful friends who generously passed me down some of her maternity clothes, baby goods such as milk bottles, baby bath etc.

So to show my thanks, I made a little baby dress for my friend’s 3 month old baby girl. I used the same pattern as these dresses. It is made of green corduroy (seen here also), and I lined it with some cotton stripe fabric. I also added cream color crochet lace at hem. I hope she’ll like it!

Filed Under: pregnancy series

Inspiration: silk tie-dye

February 1, 2011 By Chie

Images from Shabd Simon-Alexander

When I was in elementary school, I used to love water painting lessons at art class. Something about mixing colors and spreading them over a white sheet of paper was so soothing and relaxing to me as a kid. One time I drew water color cherry blossom trees and got many compliments from the teacher..maybe that’s why I remember the class as a fond memory.

Anyway, these silk tie-dye reminded me of the elementary art class. Each piece is so unique and some of the details are handsewn! Wish I could own one, why does it cost $500 a pop…

Filed Under: inspiration

From my mail box

February 1, 2011 By Chie

Image via weheartit
 

I’ve recently received two similar inquiries, looking for an advice on how to be a fashion designer. I was really flattered that I was asked. Although I don’t think I’m in the position to be giving advice on this, especially because I don’t really consider myself as a “designer” (I’d like to be called “seamstress”:) )I tried my best to give my honest response to the girls.  


This might bring some controversial discussion, especially regarding my opinion on fashion degree (I’m sure some of you will hate me..), but I decided to share it here. Any opinion and comments are welcomed! ❤

In addition, I really recommend reading Gabby from Hopeless Lingerie’s “Starting from Scratch” series.  I 100% agree with her opinion!


P.S. the girl’s name has changed for privacy purpose. I do have her consent to share her email. 
 
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Hi,

My name is Christina, 14, and I was looking through some of your collection, and pieces online and I absolutely love them!
I hope to be a fashion designer when I am older and was wondering if you had any tips on how to improve.
I have made a few pieces, but your style is exactly what I love.
If you have any free patterns that I could start off with, that would be great too.

Kind Regards,
Christina

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Hello Christina,

Thanks for contacting me.  I am flattered and humbled by what you said….very much undeserved.  Any way I can encourage or help you is my pleasure.  I don’t have any patterns but there are many online, for instance, burdastyle.com is a great site to go for sewing tips and some free patterns.

First let me say I do not do this full time.  I have a full time job.  Secondly, I never studied fashion.  Thirdly, good tools are important.  Fourthly, patience is key.  Lastly, Practicing the craft is the only way to produce quality fashion.

-On my first point, my company has been experiencing growth recently but it is certainly not something that could support me. I hope someday to do it full time but I am not sure how feasible this is…..in other words plan on doing this as a hobby/part time job in your free time as a start.  Find regular employment that will keep you fed and let fashion pay for your vacations 🙂  That is what my husband and I do. We both work and my Vivat Veritas money keeps us in the black with enough extra money to enjoy vacations and fun things like that.

-Secondly, let me be quite honest about degrees in fashion or majors in fashion, I really do not see the point.  At a fashion school you are not be taught anything that google tutorials cant teach you.  I have known many who have gone to fashion design schools, and many of them ended up working at a coffee shop. I recommend training yourself on how to make clothes.  If you are interested I can provide you with links and sites for self teaching.  I don’t mean to sound harsh but I would recommend studying something like chemistry, law, math, education anything that can get you a good full time job upon graduation….fashion jobs are few and the vast majority do not pay well. 

-Thirdly, I recommend that as you have the ability buy good tools.  Invest in a good sewing machine and good serger.
– Fourthly,  I have been at this since 2008 and I didn’t sell much of anything for the first 6-8 months.  Even now there are times when sales are just dry and all my stuff sits on the shelf.  That is how business works.  when sales come, be happy, when they don’t, be patient and use the time to expand your collection and market.

I think opening an etsy shop would be a great idea for you to practice and see what response people have to what you make.  Criticism is your best friend.  Get making things, take criticism, define what you want your style to be and have fun doing it.  Study blogs you like, try to find ways to stay ahead of trends:)

Hope this helps any more questions feel free to ask.  I wish you all the best and will look forward to seeing how you grow, learn and expand over the next few years!

Chie

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Filed Under: FAQ

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My name is Chie. I design and make custom wedding dresses in Tokyo, Japan. Read More…

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飛行機と電車の中で作ったジャケットです✈️🚆 去年の夏の3週間、アメリカとヨーロッパを旅しながら、 飛行機と電車の中で作ったジャケットです✈️🚆

去年の夏の3週間、アメリカとヨーロッパを旅しながら、座席でひたすらチクチク🪡着物の裏地にキルト芯を挟んで、フリーハンドで刺し子して、日本に帰ってから染めました。

This jacket was made on airplanes and trains✈️🚆

Over three weeks last summer, traveling through the US and Europe, I stitched away in my seat🪡 
Kimono lining sandwiched with quilt batting, sashiko stitched freehand, then dyed after I got back to Japan.

Model
@kana_nakar

Photographer 
@nothing_special_88 

Nails
@ms_muse_nail

Jewelry
@viviange

Hair 
@angh0
@sho_kanaida
@iam__little__boy

Make up
@glam_by_jyoti

#kimonoupcycle #sashiko #sustainablefashion #ReleasedReimagined
#刺し子
お客様から届いたステキな帯を、オーダーメイドのリュックにアップサイクルしました✂️ 吉祥文様が織り お客様から届いたステキな帯を、オーダーメイドのリュックにアップサイクルしました✂️

吉祥文様が織り込まれた錦の帯地は、黒地に金・白・紫…と、見る角度によって表情が変わる贅沢な一品。その美しさをそのまま活かしながら、毎日持ち歩きたくなる使いやすいリュックに仕立てました。内ポケット付きで、実用性もしっかり。

受注制作についてはプロフィールのリンクよりお問い合わせください💌

A client’s treasured obi has found a new life as a custom-made backpack✂️

The brocade fabric, woven with auspicious Japanese motifs, shifts from gold to white to violet depending on the light, a truly luxurious textile. I tried to preserve its beauty while crafting it into a backpack you’d actually want to carry every day. Complete with interior pockets for real-world practicality.

For custom orders, visit the link in our profile 💌

#KimonoUpcycle #SlowFashionJapan #WearableHeritage #着物リメイク #帯リメイク
着物リメイクをするとき、どうしても捨てられてしまうことの多い裏地。 薄手のシルクの手触り、もったい 着物リメイクをするとき、どうしても捨てられてしまうことの多い裏地。

薄手のシルクの手触り、もったいなくてサマーワンピースに生まれ変わらせました。

そのままでは物足りないのでアーティストの Riko Monma @rikoshurimonmaさんに染め直しをお願いしたら、一気に息を吹き返しました✨

数年前に作ったこの一着、今回の @designerhelен とのイベントで、コレクションに加えることにしました。

Helenからは色の組み合わせについていろいろアドバイスをもらって、自分だけでは絶対に辿り着けなかったような配色を試してみたり。準備の時間も、とても楽しかった😌

The lining of a kimono — often discarded when the fabric is remade into something new.
That soft, lightweight silk felt too good to let go, so I turned it into a summer dress. It needed something more, so I asked artist Riko Monma to dye it for me — and suddenly it came alive again.

I made this piece a few years ago, but for the recent event with @designerhelena, I decided to bring it into the collection. Helen gave me so much guidance on color — combinations I never would have arrived at on my own. The whole preparation process was just really, really fun😌

Model
@bethenny.x

Photographer 
@nothing_special_88 

Nails
@ms_muse_nail

Jewelry
@viviange

Hair 
@angh0
@sho_kanaida
@iam__little__boy

Make up
@glam_by_jyoti

#着物リメイク #キモノアップサイクル #KimonoUpcycle #SustainableFashionTokyo #ReleasedReimagined
生地をよく見ると、お姫様が👸 金彩の御所車、菊、そしてひっそりと佇む姫。 裾に宿ったまま、また別 生地をよく見ると、お姫様が👸

金彩の御所車、菊、そしてひっそりと佇む姫。 
裾に宿ったまま、また別の人生を歩みだしました♡

Released. Reimagined. — Helen Castillo @designerhelen x Vivat Veritas 

Look closely at the fabric — there’s a princess👸

A gilded royal carriage, chrysanthemums, and a maiden standing quietly in the shadows. Still living in the hem, she steps into another life♡

Model
@_kasumi.y

Photographer 
@nothing_special_88 

Hair 
@angh0
@sho_kanaida
@iam__little__boy

Make up
@glam_by_jyoti

Nails
@ms_muse_nail

#着物リメイク #御所解 #KimonoRemake #TokyoFashion #ReleasedReimagined
@allpress_espresso のコーヒーバッグで作りました☕️ Cafés do Bras @allpress_espresso のコーヒーバッグで作りました☕️

Cafés do Brasil 豆を運んでいた頃の文字が、そのままジャケットの背中に残っています。
着物だけでなく、面白い来歴のある生地をもっと取り入れていきたいと思っています✂️
素材:コーヒーバッグ × 着物シルク

Made from a coffee sack sourced from @allpress_espresso.

Cafés do Brasil — the stamp from its days carrying beans stays right there on the back. 

Kimono fabric has always been at the heart of what I do, but I want to bring in more materials with a history — things that have traveled, carried weight, meant something before they became a garment.

Materials: coffee sack × kimono silk

Photographer 
@nothing_special_88 

Model
@emorylove33

Jewelry
@viviange

Hair 
@angh0
@sho_kanaida
@iam__little__boy

Make up
@glam_by_jyoti

#upcycledfashion #sustainablestyle #coffeesack #wearablestories #ReleasedReimagined
蝶は、繭の中でひとりで変わるわけじゃない。 縫う人がいて、形が生まれる。 描く人がいて、顔に光が宿 蝶は、繭の中でひとりで変わるわけじゃない。

縫う人がいて、形が生まれる。
描く人がいて、顔に光が宿る。
飾る人がいて、耳元に物語が揺れる。

そのひとつひとつが重なって、
一着の服がランウェイで羽を広げます🦋

今回のショーに関わってくださったすべての方へ💌
ありがとうございました。皆様の手が、この服を完成させてくれました。

A butterfly doesn’t transform alone.

Someone sews, and a shape is born.
Someone paints, and light finds a face.
Someone adorns, and a story stirs beside the ear.

Each gesture layered upon the next —
until one garment spreads its wings on the runway🦋

To everyone who was part of this show 💌
Thank you.🥹Your hands brought this to life.

Photographer 
@nothing_special_88

Model
@yui78_02

Jewelry
@viviange

Hair 
@angh0
@sho_kanaida
@iam__little__boy

Make up
@glam_by_jyoti

#ReleasedReimagined #kimono #着物リメイク #sustainablefashion #runway
Before the doors opened, there was this. Garments Before the doors opened, there was this.

Garments waiting on the rack. Brushes in hand. Quiet conversations in corners. The unhurried moment before everything becomes a show.

""Released. Reimagined."" with @designerhelen was made possible by so many generous hands — our makeup and hair team, our models, every person who showed up early and stayed late. Thank you for caring for these pieces, and for each other, the way you did.

More to come🤍

扉が開く前の、静かな時間。

ハンガーに並ぶ作品たち。メイクブラシの音。片隅でかわされる小さな会話。 すべてがショーになる前の、穏やかな瞬間。

@designerhelen との“Released. Reimagined."" は、たくさんの方々の手によって生まれました。 メイク・ヘアチームのみなさん、モデルのみなさん、早くから駆けつけて最後まで残ってくれたすべての方へ。 本当にありがとうございました。
次回も頑張ります🤍

Photographer 

Models
@emorylove33
@naka_kanar
@bethenny.x
@izumi_nishida
@yui78_02
@aino.yamada03
@_kasumi.y
@sienna.christinaaa

Nails
@ms_muse_nail

Jewelry
@viviange

Hair 
@angh0
@sho_kanaida
@iam__little__boy

Make up
@glam_by_jyoti

#releasedreimagined #KimonoUpcycling #BehindTheScenes #SustainableFashion #着物リメイク
Behind the Scenes🪡 →The Runway ✨ カオスに包まれたアトリエから、ラ Behind the Scenes🪡 →The Runway ✨

カオスに包まれたアトリエから、ランウェイへ。

1つのコレクションが形になるまで、床が見えなくなるほどの生地、型紙、そして数え切れないほどの試行錯誤の時間が詰まっています。

命を吹き込んでくれた素晴らしいモデルの皆さん、そして支えてくださったスタッフの皆さんに心から感謝💝

あなたのお気に入りのルックはどれですか?ぜひコメントで教えてください👇❤️

From a chaotic atelier to the runway.

Before a collection comes to life, there are floors buried under fabric, pattern pieces, and countless hours of trial and error.

A heartfelt thank you to the incredible models who breathed life into each look, and to every member of the team who made it all possible 💝

Which look was your favorite? Let me know in the comments 👇❤️

#ファッションショー #ランウェイ #バックステージ #fashiondesigner #runway
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