TWELV　takes a step back and visits the masterminds behind the camera. Read as we host interviews and explore the lives of artists who shape the final product - directors, fashion designers, stylists, hair stylists, makeup artists, and photographers.

MASAYA KUSHINO

Decorative reminiscent and sculpture heel full of design reminiscent of the sculpture of the baroque period, the dress of haute couture, such as presence alone, such as the Fine Art just like while having the form of shoes works ingenious. MASAYA KUSHINO, a Japanese shoes designer, after graduation Kyoto Art College of Design Fashion Design Course, he dealt with men’s wedding design company. In 2004, he went to "INSTISUTE MARANGONI" Milan school in Fashion Design Master course. After returning home, as a freelance designer, beside that he dealt with men's wedding design again, and also act as a stylist of the artist.

　“I was not interested in making shoes.” MASAYA KUSHION had have studied designing of clothing. He would try out to apply for many contests, but he did not form an estimate of his ability. He designed shoes for the first time at " JILA LEATHER GOODS AWARD 2007 ", in fact, his work was rejected the first screening. However, one of his ideal designer, YASUHIRO MIHARA, picked up his work. In result, he was awarded the Grand Prix. “I was wondering people thought like I gave up designing clothing, then I changed into making shoes. Actually it is right, but I realized that I could make fantasy through shoes. Shoes are just as visually stimulating as sculpture or any other three-dimensional art piece, but they also fundamentally have to be wearable” MASAYA KUSHINO started to expand as own brand “MASAYA KUSINO” such as shoes and bags with focus on leather, in the wake of the fact that in 2007. That was the time to flower his real genius.

  As you imagine, his work is getting successful. In addition he had have a successful collaboration with JULIUS (Paris Collection), ENZO participated in the performance in Paris by "Les R.mond" was raising an army SOMARTA (Tokyo Collection). His works are in worldwide, but he is still based in Kyoto where is even not the capital city in Japan. “Because the best sense of distance among information, people, culture and tradition” he said. “You can see and feel many things in Kyoto beyond generations. ” The latest collection “Bird-witched” was exhibited at Kyoto Modern Museum, is called “Future beauty Japanese Fashion : continuity of discontinuity” Pairing opulent peacock feathers and attached pony tail with ball round bottom is now engraved mentally, especially the model of rams' horns. “Three pairs that I have produced this time, has inspired the paintings of ITO JAKUCHU. In order to achieve realism with similar JAKUCHU is a painter who was active in the mid-Edo period, even madness, commissioned textile veteran NISHIJIN in Kyoto to "HOSOO", the heels of the foot of the chicken are the point of design he has bespoke TAKASHI NAKAMURA, who is one of the famous sculptors in Japan. Bird feathers covering the shoes, exudes the rich colors by dyeing their own way, a shiny mysterious change an expression depending on the viewing angle. I express in the form of shoes the life force of chicken drawn by JAKUCHU” he explained.

　“I would like to find a place in history as a shoes designer in the future. People in the future would imagine how people wore and made the shoes if my collections are exhibited in museums, that is my wish. The first, I want to make shoes are valuable as a million dollar.” He was very friendly and familiar for us when we interviewed with him, despite the fact there is a huge ambition in his mind. His ambition will form into shoes and fly abroad just like his latest collection “Bird-witched.”

Text  ELIE INOUE
Edit  May Muneoka