Fujiwara is the new creative director at Issey Miyake, replacing Naoki Takizawa, who will soon present his own company. The creator of the A-Poc (a piece of cloth) collections defines Dai Fujiwara, together with Issey Miyake, as someone who shines like every day’s sunlight. Now, as the new creative director, he will also introduce the A-Poc philosophy in Issey Miyake’s collections. Does this mean that Issey Miyake will be more experimental? A-Poc will be the catalyst for creating a new brand within Issey Miyake and will be called A-Poc Inside. Issey Miyake will follow the example of A-Poc. It will be more than a clothing line. It is a specialist philosophy, a design solution. Applying the A-Poc system to Issey Miyake’s production mechanisms will revitalise all the company’s lines. There will be interaction between tradition and technology. Was the creative director position at Issey Miyake expected or a surprise? Perhaps it was not a surprise at the company but, for me, it was something made in heaven. Will the next step be to create your own company? There is something that I have determined in my mind which I am gradually mentioning here in Japan. I plan to dig a well with a depth of one kilometre. And I will do this with my hands until I find and extract water of life from it. Will the company be called Issey Miyake by Dai Fujiwara from now on? I refuse to do this. Issey Miyake is not only clothes, it is also perfumes, watches…and probably more things. I would like to unify all the company’s image under the same perspective. Therefore, there is no need to put my name. Moreover, I don’t have a big ego, I like the idea of working in a team. I work like the handle on the lid of a saucepan, which is the team. The only thing I know is that everything that will happen at Issey Miyake from now own, whether good or bad, will be my responsibility. Has Naoki Takizawa given you any advice about replacing his position? If Miyake is my father in the creative world, then Takizawa is my big brother. This is what he told me: “Brother, try to get the best out of you, don’t be afraid”. www.isseymiyake.com Text: Mongómeri