A Glimpse Into Why Chitose Abe & sacai Keep on Winning

Chitose Abe needs no introduction, her record speaks for itself: pattern cutter at COMME des GARÇONS, Junya Watanbe design team member and Nike collaborator. In an interview with Tiffany Godoy for SSENSE, the entrepreneurial designer speaks on where she draws her inspiration, some important moments in her life, her dreams, the founding of her brand sacai, and what the future holds. “I only do what I do because it’s truly necessary.”

You can read the full interview here while an excerpt appears below.

When did you first discover fashion? Have you always wanted to dress well, even when you were young?
I really hate looking the same as someone else. Bellbottoms were the big thing when I was in elementary school. I thought that was really boring and had my mom take in the legs on all my bellbottoms to make them slim. When I wore them to school, my friends in class copied me and had their moms make the same. I got angry and said, “I’m going home!” [Laughs] Even when it came to hairstyles, I would do my hair in strange ways and my friends would start to do the same. I couldn’t forgive that kind of thing. It made me want to scream. I was always saying, “I’m leaving, I hate it!” and would stomp home. I’m not super passionate in such an emotional way now. It strikes me as silly when I look back on it.

Where did you get your inspirations? From magazines?
From magazines and TV. I’d style everything my own way. At school, we had to wear hats during PE class, but I couldn’t wear the hat with my hair done, and I’d refuse to take the braids out, so my mom would get super mad at me. Apparently this was a recurring thing.

Hardcore fashion babe.
[Laughs] Totally! I think I’ve calmed down now.