Mayu Okamatsu (Tokyo, Japan)
32-year-old Japanese designer Mayu Okamatsu is making an idiosyncratic statement with her delicate crystal- and fur-embellished leather gloves. With nine years of experience in crafting intricate yet wearable pieces for women, Okamatsu launched her own label in 2006, the success of which led to her participation in the avant-garde design exhibition "Rooms" during Japan Fashion Week. More recently, her unique approach to wearing jewellery has caught the eye of the reigning magpies of the fashion industry, Swarovski. She was among a number of up-and-coming accessories designers invited to use revolutionary new techniques devised by Swarovski in an exhibition entitled "Crystal Loves Leather" held last year at the Mode Museum in Antwerp.
With a taste for minimal, elegant clothes, such as those from her favourite designer, the New York based Doo.ri, Okamatsu creates statement jewellery that brings character and extravagance to an otherwise simple aesthetic. That glove-loving era of the 80s serves as an inspiration to Okamatsu, as do the glove-wearing style icons Michael Jackson (circa "Billie Jean" and "Rock With You") and, of course, Karl Lagerfeld. With hopes to one day collaborate with a major fashion house, Okamatsu is currently dedicated to making "wearing jewellery like wearing perfume".
Q & A
I design things that I want to wear.
How would you describe your style
My jewellery designs are very wearable; I like simple clothes, so I try to make my jewellery make simple clothes look as unique as possible.
What inspires you at the moment?
The eighties, Michael Jackson (especially "Billy Jean" and "Rock With You"), Coco Chanel.
What was your favourite outfit from your youth?
With all of the press interest in your collection what are your plans now?
To loan out my collection for lots of photoshoots.
Collaborating with a big fashion house.
Where do you see yourself in ten years' time?
In Tokyo, still doing my accessories collection.
Text by Fiona Mackay, photography by Ben Toms, styling by Robbie Spencer, hair by Naoki Komiya using Bumble and Bumble, make up by Valerie Ferreira using Mac, model Lenka at Premier Model Management.