Something special lurking in the everyday.
Margaret Howell and her casual line, MHL., create clothing that can be worn by people from all walks of life. For example, their creations are unique.
Reversing the typical designer's process of drawing an image and searching for materials, the designer first considers the materials that touch people's skin, then moves on to colors, and finally begins the design process. The color decisions are also unique. The colors of the items are based on the colors they see under the British sky.
In England, the light is relatively blue because of cloudy skies, while in sunny Japan, the light is more reddish. That is why Margaret Howell has many clothes that are relatively bluish.
What inspiration did the two of you receive through the resulting clothes?
What kind of fashion are you both interested in right now?
Inowaki:Recently, I have been focusing on the importance of functionality and what the clothes are made for. For example, if I sweat or get wet in the rain, I now choose clothes that dry in an hour or two, or even 30 minutes if I am not very good at it, and that are lightweight. The latter is getting me to think about what I am paying for, such as environmental considerations.
In this respect, Margaret Howell may also be considered an environmentally conscious brand. The quality of their clothes is high, so they can be worn for a long time, and they are also environmentally conscious in many ways. One of the items that caught my attention was their upcycled collection, which is made by grinding sample fabrics from production and twisting them with organic cotton yarns. The fabric has a unique look because it is made from a variety of fabrics that are ground together to create a unique look, with knots in the fabric.
Inowaki:The way the knots are inserted into the yarn and twisted together is slightly different in each case. I think it's nice that it looks like a one-of-a-kind product.
Do you have a favorite silhouette?
Inowaki:I prefer a little bit of room, but what I'm particularly interested in is color. I like clothes that stay as neutral as possible, and patterned or loudly colored clothes make me tired when I look in the mirror (laughs). In that respect, I like all the colors of the clothes I wore today and I felt at home.
Are there any fashions that you are interested in these days?
Usuda:When I was in my twenties, I wanted to buy and wear lots of cute clothes. But these days, I feel like I want to keep it simpler. I want to wear vintage clothes that I have always liked and clothes that I will always love. I just want clothes that are staples for me and that I can enjoy every day.
What would you say are some of your standard items?
Usuda:I have plain white T's like that, but I have everything from worn out and pajama-like to new crisp and clean. It is true that what I like never changes, but in my case, I can't always wear the same outfit. I update important items within myself and adapt them to my current lifestyle. （As I mentioned in the first part, items from Margaret Howell are one of those items.
For this shoot, we came to a city by the sea with mountains nearby, away from Tokyo. You two seemed relaxed from start to finish.
Inowaki:I have been coming to this area recently for filming of movies, etc., and I really like this location. The light was good in all the places I went today, and the sea and the unique colors of the sunset were pleasant. I have always been like that, but I have been especially interested in light lately...
What kind of light do you like?
Inowaki:I like natural light, but I am particularly interested in light produced by man-made objects and nature. For example, natural light via man-made objects, like the sight of a pool of light on the ground caused by the reflection of a mirror. I like to see such moments that cannot be created by either nature alone or artifacts alone.
It's the light that appears unexpectedly in our daily lives. For Margaret, the designer, everyday life is also an inspiration. She walks about 30 minutes from the station to the office, and the expressions and casual movements of the people she passes on the way are her inspiration. If there is any beauty that Ms. Usuda has found recently in her daily life, please tell us about it.
Usuda:Recently, I realized that I like water (laugh). I live in a rural area of Tokyo where there is a river running in front of my house, and I cross it every day when I go to work or take my children to preschool. There is so much nature around my house that I can watch the ducklings from their eggs to their chicks. I go into the river, bring my own food and eat it on a sheet in the field, and run around. I love those moments and times. I don't need to do anything special, and I feel that sometimes it is good to do nothing at all.
