Eley Kishimoto

November 4, 2011

ELEY KISHIMOTO x ATTIC FANTASTIC

After the latest collection presentations this season for spring summer 2012 it is quite apparent that print design has found its way back to our wardrobe. A multitude of colors, paisleys, flowers and basically any type of print you could imagine roamed the catwalks. Whether we decided to celebrate life no mater what the grim circumstances are, it is an uplifting thought put into action. Making the world a prettier place is a good start to ignite some change, especially now we are heading into the colder months of the year. With this new taste of optimism in mind I met up with Mark Eley from designer duo Eley Kishimoto during The Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven. While Mark Eley was cooking up some Japanese at the concept store You Are Here (where they sell the line exclusively in The Netherlands), I sat down and chatted with him about the success and inspirations behind the magnificent Eley Kishimoto.

Written by Suzanne van Heerde

Mark Eley & Wakako Kishimoto formed Eley Kishimoto in the early 90’s. He studied at Brighton Polytechnic and she studied at Central Saint Martins in the mid 80’s and found their mutual love for print design. Combining the more minimal graphic design with Japanese Kawaii print the duo created a unique signature style that gained respect from the international fashion world. In the mid 90’s they launched their first women’s wear collection and started showing at London Fashion Week. It did not take long before they were creating custom-made print designs for the big design houses like Jil Sander, Marc Jacobs and Alexander McQueen. Their “Flash” print design is probably their most renowned print design applied to an array of products like phone & laptop cases, helmets and bags.

S: When did your fascination with textiles begin?
M: It started in college when I was studying fashion. At the time I was into weaving. Wakako was studying at Central St. Martins and mostly into prints. My style was colorful yet minimalist and hers was more “kawaii” and more out there. We fused our styles naturally and created Eley Kishimoto.

S: What inspires you the most at the moment?
M: Mostly exploring and the people around me, through these elements I create a sense of integrity to add to the feel of my designs. Together we source inspiration to transit ourselves creatively. Right now we are feeling youthful playfulness as the core of our inspiration.

S: Despite the various areas that Eley Kishimoto ventures into, do you still have a tight fan base?
M: At times we create things that are more commercial than we would like but we do so in order to invest money in less commercial projects. We don’t play by the rules coming up with new collections every season; we tend to disrupt the common scenario. Our loyal fan base is used to the aforementioned and therefore they keep following as we continue the narrative of our lives through our designs.

S: What is the vision and mission of Eley Kishimoto?
M: Survival, being creative, producing our own products independently, integrity. It’s as simple as that, as long as we keep on playing.

S: Do you and your wife work on certain projects independently?
M: It feels like we work together all the time but there are definitely areas where one feels more at ease than the other. I for instance am very keen on collaborating. As our brand is very niche, we need to exploit the possibilities in all various areas if possible. Collaboration is the key.

S: In an interview you say the following about your students: “I feel old and jaded in this business; they’re the ones who are enlightening me.” –scotsman.com
Do you still feel this way?
M: 20 years in fashion as an independent and continuously fighting the rules, of course I feel old! It’s a really tough business! But I really enjoy working with students, as they are more eager to learn and experience. I enjoy the conflict, the challenging aspect and the ability to inspire someone else. I come from a time when we hadn’t heard of computers and therefore digital printing. At present I teach at various colleges in the UK, Central Saint Martins is one of them. I do try to pass on a lot of the knowledge I gained during my years at college. Maybe I’m fighting a losing battle here but at least I’m trying.

S: Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
M: Most probably in my studio, doing something as strange as this, with the same people or perhaps others. I’ll be a bit greyer and maybe a bit fatter, hahaha. But hopefully I’ll be with my family and we will be just as happy.