ARTISANS OF HASUDA:REGIONAL ECONOMY VITALIZATION PROJECT BY SAITAMA PREFECTURE

CLOTH IS SOMETHING LIKE A PAINT FOR ME

FIRST BIG JOB WAS TO MAKE CLOTHES FOR CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL AT THREE, FIVE AND SEVEN YEARS OF AGE

I liked making clothes from childhood. When I was an office worker at a company, I joined in Christmas parties or other gatherings dressed in my handmade clothes. Even after leaving the company for marriage, I continued making clothes for myself. When I got a daughter, I started making baby clothes for her. When going out together, we were dressed in matching outfits I made. Dressing look alike seemed to be curious to people, acquaintances asked me where I got them. When I said I made them by myself, they requested me to make for them, too. That was my first sale.

Memorable job I tackled with was to make boy's clothes for the festival of children at three, five and seven years of age. It was a big order I received for the first time since I started sales. The festival is an event to come once in ones' lifetime. I made a set of clothes consisting of a hat, a jacket and pants for such a memorable event. The chance made me build a confidence. I still remember the feelings I got at that time and continue sewing one by one with great care.

BOOKS FOR WESTERN CLOTHES ARE MY RIVAL

Only the feeling as "I like to make clothes" has made me take a road of dressmaking for more than 40 years. I studied alone without going to a dressmaking school or the like. It was not persons but books that played a roll of teacher and rival as well. Only beautiful items are introduced in books. I have been making clothes turning pages and saying to myself as "I will make a better one than this". I keep a lot of books in the atelier, the books which formed the base of my works.

Since I don't like just imitating what others do, I never swallow whatever I meet in books without thinking. I usually create clothes after blending sense and fashion with the design and technique which I got from books. Clothes can't be made freely from the beginning. Through failure and experience, I've step by step come to be able to form the flash inside me. Eventually I could put only one product in the world.

NOTHING ELSE CAN GIVE ME HAPPIER TIME THAN WHEN I SEE CUSTOMERS FEEL PLEASURE WITH THE CLOTHES MADE BY ME

I like to be in the work shop so much, spending most of my time in the atelier. I use a lot of time in house keeping in addition to sewing as a matter of couse. Good works can't be done if work shop is not kept tidy and in order. Curiously I'm less satisfied with the clothes made in messy work places. Customers can support my clothes because the most beloved clothes are made in the most beloved place.

Nothing else can give me happier time than when I see customers feel pleasure with the clothes made by me. I hope to make and send to customers such clothes as many as possible that they are able to brighten customers.

CREATIVE CLOTHING: Chieko MAEDA

HEAD OF ATELIER Chieko FOR CREATIVE CLOTHING
She studied sewing alone from childhood, making creative clothing of high originality featuring special color usage based on the red and toughness. There are many deep-rooted fans. Products are shown in the atelier exhibition corner for sales.

  • Address:
    Nishshinjuku 5-31-4, Hasuda City, Saitama Pref.
  • Phone:
    +81-48-769-1395
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