FASHION DESIGNERS TO KNOW: KAZUMI SAKAMOTO
KAZUMI SAKAMOTO
Born in Tokyo, raised in Shanghai, and now based in New York City, Kazumi Sakamoto is a fashion designer and multimedia artist. She is also the owner of her eponymous clothing line, Kazumi Sakamoto, inspired by conscious design, empowerment, sensuality, and self reflection. Through Kazumi’s unwavering commitment to eco-friendly design and production practices, she is raising awareness around the importance of sustainability in fashion.
SHEER: Tell us a little bit about yourself.
KAZUMI SAKAMOTO: My name is kazumi sakamoto. I am half Chinese half Japanese. I was born in Tokyo. Raised in Shanghai. I moved to New York six years ago.
SHEER: What sparked your interest in fashion?
KS: For as long as I could remember, I wanted to dress myself. My mother took fashion classes when she was young. She was always a sharp and classy dresser. With her influence and encouragement, I took interest in fashion early. I remember going into her closet and her jewelry cabinet as a young child playing dress-up and getting reprimanded. Fashion was more than an interest growing up. It was an innate desire for self-expression.
PHOTO CREDIT: Sam Kugler
SHEER: How do you approach expressing your ideas through the design process?
KS: Hmmm, I think my writing of philosophies might be the most literal approach. The philosophies behind my collections and designs are very personal and intimate—they’re almost a form of therapy for me. For example, my new collection, Present SS22, is a reflection of an exploration of self-love through isolation during the Covid-19 lockdown. The title Present SS22 is a double entendre—it represents both “the present time” and “a gift”. I often think about the mood and feelings that I want to evoke and the sensations that would arise when you put on the clothes. Therefore I drape on myself often. Material is also another key to communicating my ideas.
“Fashion was more than an interest growing up. It was an innate desire for self-expression.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Sam Kugler
SHEER: How do your designs promote sustainability?
KS: Sustainability is crucial in my design process. I have not put my garments in production yet because I haven’t yet found a way to source and manufacture that aligns with my beliefs in sustainable production. I aim to design clothes that are special and high quality so buyers can wear them for a long time or even pass them down to their children.
As for now, I am upcycling left-over, gifted, or vintage fabric in my sample-making process.
PHOTO CREDIT: Sam Kugler
SHEER: Your collection Slouching Towards the Oasis is beautiful! What inspired this collection and what was the creative process like?
KS: Slouching Towards the Oasis was my graduation thesis. It was inspired by a poem by W.B Yeats. It was inspired by the second coming, and an imagined oasis to reset and recharge. I used pastel colors and leopard print to create a gentle, playful, and romantic mood. After finding materials I did a preliminary sketch of the collection. I made muslin samples for fitting, then in the actual fabric. All sounds quite straightforward… Well, of course. I procrastinated and dissociated a lot throughout the making of it. I was in a bad mental state. There were days I could not get out of bed. I almost missed the fitting when the models came in. I am almost surprised I finished it in time. It was a manifestation of a tired girl’s desperation for grabbing for air and healing energy haha.
DP: Jasdeep Kang; Styling: Joyce Keokham; Makeup: Ori Gilady
SHEER: What have been some of your greatest challenges in launching your own clothing line?
KS: Oh, sis, we can talk about this all day long. Showcasing collections is not the hard thing. You just have to do it. The problem is production. As for now, there are couple of things including sustainable sourcing and production that I have to do a lot of research and homework for. But don’t worry! I have already found some solutions. If you are waiting to buy some clothes…Sorry about the wait hehe♡
“Sustainability is crucial in my design process. I have not put my garments in production yet because I haven’t yet found a way to source and manufacture that aligns with my beliefs in sustainable production. I aim to design clothes that are special and high quality so buyers can wear them for a long time or even pass them down to their children.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Sam Kugler
SHEER: How do you stay mentally and emotionally grounded as you navigate your creative journey?
KS: PATIENCE AND ROUTINE! I have boxing and acupuncture every week. I make coffee and do yoga every morning. I can be chaotic evil sometimes. Having those “anchors” are helpful. But obviously, I fall off some days but that's where patience comes in. We have a lifetime to work on ourselves.
SHEER: What advice do you have for young designers who want to branch out on their own but have no idea where to start?
KS: You can read a book, take some classes but an Internship is probably the fastest way to learn! I understand the horrendous facts about unpaid/underpaying internships. The environment could be toxic too. But internships are meant to be temporary and you can gain tremendous knowledge of how a company operates and learn from its mistakes. If you are lucky you might meet great mentors who will change your life.
At the end of the day, It depends on your outlook. For the ones who already had that experience—just do it. Make clothes, take photos, share them! If I can do it you can do it too.
“We have a lifetime to work on ourselves.”
SHEER: What is the lasting impact you hope to make through your brand?
KS: Hmmm I know I can be very idealistic sometimes, but I hope to empower and uplift people through my clothes while raising awareness of sustainable living. Hehe, fingers crossed for me!
PHOTO CREDIT: Sam Kugler
Check out more from Kazumi Sakamoto below:
By Tiara Starks
Zhané Aliya is a content creator based in the Nashville bringing her own flair to the fashion, lifestyle, and DIY beauty content niches while speaking in-depth about her experiences as a Black creator navigating the platform’s ever-changing algorithm.