ATELIER in NEW YORK

It's coming "ATELIER" soon from Sat. 20 - Mon. 22nd of Feb. in New York City.

Here in Kyoto, everyone who are in charge have been working even it's Saturday.

http://www.atelierdesigners.com

Have you discussed many things through to the bitter end?

We have employed new people positively since last year, new people who can commit help to the future to our company, also we would like to cultivate those new people for our company.

The purpose of the hiring was the revolution positively by those people who could attend to the revolution and dedicate to the points which we had to change about company seriously.

Here are some reports which they pointed out about our floors for Akihiko Izukura in the department stores in Tokyo and Nagoya after their business trip.
-We didn’t see the common purpose or target in each places as Akihiko Izukura brand.
We must not have the foundation for them…?
-We must have a wonderful basis originally but I am afraid I can’t see them showing or describing.
-We need to concrete our basis ourselves, all of us from the top to the bottom in our company, before to try to see the way to show our products or the policy.

They raised many questions about the problems.

They were all never negative and facing to our problems sincerely. Also they pointed out how we could change, how we should be or let’s change how, etc…

I couldn’t stop tearing in my eyes when I read this report…

I felt we finally reach to the true point of “we are going to change” “we have to change”.
One of each of us could make the company which we all could be proud of.

They were told by the people from one graphic design company which went to the business trip together, “Have you discussed many things through to the bitter end?”

To face to the problems and raise questions to them positively without hesitation to raise our prides for our company.

We must to come to the entrance of the ideal which we would like to make a company which can discuss through to the bitter end sharing our visions for the future without compromise, that is I feel.

From the meeting of Waso(traditional Japanese Obi dep.) committee 2010.02.04. Thu. 1:00p.m.-1:35p.m.

It’s honorable to say that we are known as Hinaya’s “Kumi-Obi/Braiding Sash” or “Kumi-Obi/Braiding Sash”’s Hinaya.

We deeply appreciate the clients and customers who have supported us as the name of a store “Hinaya” since it was established.
However, I can’t deny the reality of decreasing of the demand for Japanese Kimono nowadays.

I might have to say it’s inevitable because our life-style has been changing.

It seems like we have been accelerating ourselves to warp our traditions by force to make that decreasing up for.


There have been the losses of credibility in the Kimono Industry in Japan because of the way they have distributed, such as double price system or over quantity sale.
I believe, we, each of, are involved in Kimono industry, should stand the dishonesty in the old and wound traditions with a good side of spirit of traditions specially in this circumstances lately as our new revolution.

We presented a new style of Obi,[Gohobi Kumi Obi] in August last year and start our own web site in a same time. I believe we have been very positively active since then.

I wish, as a resolution of 2010, we could dedicate for the revolution being more active to create something new better in our industry.

I recognized it once again more today.

Towards becoming a showroom which people could admit it's a one of famous place to visit in Kyoto

We have started the petit-renovation for the showroom of Akihiko Izukura in Kyoto.

They had to wait for me until now coming back from Europe to start instead of the middle of January which they were supposed to. They want me to present together as an observer for the special process against a quick-run-down for the building.

Honestly, I love to observe these kinds of jobs…yes, I know I have to try not to be so poking artisans…

haute tissu

Haute couture(French for "high sewing" or "high dressmaking")refers to the creation of exclusive custom-fitted clothing. Haute couture is made to order for a specific customer, and it is usually made from high-quality,expensive fabric and sewn with extreme attention to detail and finish, often using time-consuming, hand-executed techniques.
Couture is a common abbreviation of Haute Couture, which refers to the same thing in spirit.

In France, the term haute couture is pretected by law and is defined by the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie de Paris based in Paris, France. Their rules state that only "those companies mentioned on the list drawn up each year by a commission domiciled at the Ministry for industry are entitled to avail themselves" of the label haute couture.

To earn the right to call itself a couture house and to use the term haute couture in its advertising and any other way, members of the Chambre syndicale de la haute couture must follow these rules:
*Design made-to-order for private clients, with one or more fittings.
*Have a workshop(atelier) in Paris that employs at least fifteen people full-time.
*Each season(i.e.,twice a year), present a collection to the Paris press, comprising at least thirty-five runs/exits with outfits for both daytime wear and evening wear.

However, the term haute couture may have been misused by ready-to-wear brands since the late 1980s, so that its true meaning may have become blurred with that of pret-a-porter(the French term for ready-to-wear fashion) in the public perception. Every haute couture house also markets pret-a-porter collections, which typically deliver a higher return on investment than their custom clothing.

Paris Fashion Week was known as Haute Couture Collection until 1950s, then pret-a-porter collection flourished 1960s, now when you mention Paris Fashion Week means pret-a-porter most of the time. Just only members of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, the invited guest member from out of France and the invited brand company can participate.

Referred to WIKIPEDIA

I realized I could get a better understanding of Haute Couture over the collaboration with Haute Couture Maison this time.(we also have had the plan of another collaboration with other Maison)

I have heard a lots of about it and it seems Haute Couture is now facing to have to be changed...

We are now planning to collaborate with creators trying new attempt even in the frame of Haute Couture. We are willingly to help for that revolutionary trial in the tradition by that collaboration.

Then that is going to be..

appreciated as “haute tissue” as “haute couture” as a creation in the textile design, that I wish..

I gave kind a longer speech

in the meeting at the beginning of the fiscal year toward the all staff today.

A key word for this new business year is [take the result too seriously].
However, of course, it’s not a good idea to think only of the present for that result.
We have to re-consider repeatedly.
I’ve understood our reality for the result now is still on the way. However,…

What we are after is the company which can still exist even after 100 years from now.

Also challenge to become one and only as a textile brand company and to have customers in all over the world.
Additionally, would like to make a showroom for our products which people could admit it’s one of famous places to visit in Kyoto using the web site and activate it as communication tools to transmit the information.
On the other hand, we also would like to contribute to cultivate the talents and lifelong learning.

We, Akihiko Izukura wish to contribute to progress for Japanese culture exchanging and communicating with the world based on the natural dyeing from Kyoto, the tradition of Kyoto and a Japanese view of nature.

PARIS -> -> KYOTO

PARIS 1.29-30

Sakina M'sa - Hautecuture Collection

With Sakina M'sa

Place Victor-Hugo

Atelier of Gustavo Lins