Yuta Setogawa ︎
How old are you?
Y: I am 25 years old
Have you always been interested in fashion ? What sparked your intrigue?
Y: No, I was originally interested in work with hair and hair styling because I used to study about hair dressing when I was a high school student. I guess I always knew that I wanted to create and curate ; that was for certain.
You go to a fashion university in Kyoto do you think it helped direct your creative outlet?
Y: I attend ESMOD which I believe is different from other Japanese fashion universities. There are many ESMOD campuses scattered around the world. It was originally founded in in France. In Japan we study about fashion design from a French teacher. Ive found it helps me creatively because I notice the beauty of Japan through their eyes — those of a foreigner. As well there is a range of people within my university I can go to for various inquiries.
Can you tell us about the competition you won?
Y: In 2018 I won the 18th YKK FASTENING AWARDS (Special Jury's Award) and the Dalian Cup International Youth Fashion Design Contest 2018 (Excellence Award). I was also nominated for 93th So-en Award.
What was the inspiration behind the avant-garde clothing you have made? Do you find any inspiration for your work through living in Japan?
Y: I am always getting inspirations from my daily life. Through that I will begin to develop and curate my garments. Sometime the garments I come up with are not wearable, but I still think it’s important. To me fashion does not only have to be wearable.
Is there anything you would like to talk about that we haven’t already covered?
Y: What I like to encapsulate through my work is between art and fashion — I can’t see it but I can feel it.
