Setsuko Tatematsu

Fashion Designer

 

   It all began with my grandmother’s handworks —rinsing a cloth, unraveling threads and stretching them on a board vertically and horizontally. A piece of cloth was turned into a useful form— a kimono, a dress, a bag, or a bed quilt —all well arranged and fully utilized. I learned from her hands, rather than from her words. Her elaboration crystallized in her beautiful works.

   Threads and needles were my best interest during my childhood, and I have been enchanted by sewing and knitting ever since. After getting married, I joined a dance class and had an opportunity to make dance costumes. The correlation between a human body and a garment attracted my interest. It led me to study the dressmaking from the very basic patterns to fashion draping.

   In 2002, after working as an assistant designer at a couturier “Atelier 21” in Tokyo, I started making made-to-order dresses. My self-taught dressmaking directs me to face the fabrics first. I do not draw design sketches. Instead, I build up a solid structure by positioning and pinning numerous pieces of fabric — a reconstruction of a body, in other words. I handle all by myself— from the material selection to the finish. Each one of my works presented at the exhibitions at various galleries is unique, embodying my thoughts and delight. My goal is making dresses with eternal elegance and individualities. The ever-changing fashion trends do not influence my works. The life-style of my client does.

   The revival & renewal of clothing— dresses, kimonos, or fur garments— is another big theme of my work. With limited conditions to rework, it requires plenty of time and energy. For this very reason, I receive not a few orders. To fully re-vitalize the materials and give them new functions and forms, I continue to evolve.

 

立松節子

服飾デザイナー

 

　原点は祖母の手仕事。

　糸を解く。布を洗う。板に張られた経糸、緯糸。
１枚の布は着物、服、袋、布団へと暮らしに必要な形となり活かされてゆく。
きちんと整える。最後まで使い切る。
言葉でなく手から教わったこと。丁寧な仕事が美しい姿に表れていた。それ以来、糸と針に関心を持ち、編み物、服作りに魅了される。
　結婚後ダンス衣装製作に関わり、身体の動きと布の関係からの製作へ変化、立体裁断を学ぶ。
　オーダーメイド服アトリエ21アシスタントを経て、2002年nibiオーダーメイド服制作を開始。
　 素材探しから完成まで自身で手がけている。 東京、京都、直島など各地ギャラリーに於いて展示するのは１点１点同じものがない作品として見て感じていただきたいとの思いから。

　トレンドを追うのではなく、自身の生き方スタイルを持つ服。

　独学から作り続けてきた服はデザイン画を描かず、常に布と対峙しながら生み出すスタイル。無数の布をピンワークの繰り返しで立体に組み上げる『円』の再構築『再生・繋ぐ』 をテーマに製作を続けている。又、服、着物、毛皮を再利用、デザインを加え新たな価値、美を生み出す創作『UP-CYCLING』をライフワークとして取り組んでいる。