bortsprungt :: Japan-Fashion.com

What do you miss in Tokyo?
Is there anything you can't find in the City which never sleeps, never stops and never regrets about things left behind?
Maybe miracles or animals? Or opportunity to express your compassion and don't feel embarrassed or somehow used?

There are two people I know who have something to do with all these things and moreover - with visual art performed through fabric.
You'd rather call their works alternative slide then an escape from concrete and asphalt world of this City. There are wolfs on the T-shorts embracing your shoulders. Tiny black ants running on the linen surface of skirts. There is not much talking.
The bortsprungt collection gives you sense of deep relaxing silence which you can only experience in the woods.

				bortsprungt story The Wolf's Muffler Living at the edge of the village, one day grandpapa Bahalu and Lulu the wolf went into the forest to gather some mushrooms. All of a sudden, Lulu collapsed to the floor and died. Grandpa Bahalu had always prepared himself for a day like this, but he still couldn't help but slump down and weep at Lulu's abrupt death. Hours and hours passed by. The old grandpa lifted the still warm Lulu up on to his shoulders and in the cool air of early spring, returned on the road home.

				bortsprungt story shirokuma? Deep within a forest came a polar bear. The bear had left his frozen country in search of food. It was the first time the people of the village had seen a polar bear, but they noticed a sad expression on the bear's face so they invited him to the village and listened closely to his tale. The villagers gave the polar bear lots of food and after he was completely full they guided him though the village and to the flowing Tanto River where he could live and build his house.

Oh, that white bear. He has his own story, he was forced to be in the forest because ice on which he used to live, melted down. Now he is a sole mate for those who have lost their kingdoms.
Take any piece from bortsprungt's collection, and each time you'll find a certain story, written on the tag.

Q: Why do you put such deep message into your clothes?

Ecology is not just the empty word or fashionable decoration for Yuya and Nagi. For already several years both of them are taking part in different eco-activities. For example, Yuya is be engaged in local Tamagawa eco-activity. He helps to clean the river shore from garbage. Nagi likes animals, so she is searching for new families for abandoned dogs.
When thinking about inspiration, for Yugi and Nagi it came with the question: "What can we do?". And was followed by the spirit of creativeness.

Designers say:
- We hope that people, who wear bortsprungt clothes, can feel our message. Also just looking at those who wear bortsprungt brand clothes can wake up hearts.

Q: You are not the sole creator of bortsprungt. Do you find it difficult to cooperate with Ms. Nagi - both of you are well known artists with your own creative focus.

If you don't fight for better vision of the same project, no good work can be done.
Indeed, we have different background and opinion about many things.
I understand the world of fashion very well. That's why my opinion is all the time built on the solid ground of experience.
But Nagi has sense of fashion. She is not the type of person who would compromise. When making new collection, we won't move further until Nagi is sure that every little imperfection is gone.
And that's why, in my opinion, we are able to create beautiful things together.

Impressions of Nagi.

"Nagi is not the type of person who compromises a lot. Even when we have fashion photo shooting scheduled it doesn't help a lot. Nothing will be done until Nagi is sure in each part of the collection.
She spends the full breadth of her time without conceding to discomforts or delicate misalignment and thereby leading the way forward. No wonder wang-tangs are created.
Bold and interesting expressions starkly contrast with this delicate maiden. She bubbles with warmth and kindness.
While she's setting up a horror style cafe she's really just poor at disguising the haunted house."

-Yuya

Q: Ms. Nagi became famous as video artist and creative director. Does her background have an effect on your work together now?

Several years ago in Paris we decided to do some project together.
Nagi was interested in fashion business, I knew her as a talented art director. So we wanted to combine our skills and create new brand. That was the very beginning of bortsprungt.
As a video artist she pays a lot of attention to minor details. And at the same time she has clear view of the project as a whole. I think this is unique ability.

Q: What is "Japanese fashion style" for you?

Freedom.
There are many fashion trends in Japan. And I think that Japanese culture will influence world more and more in the future.

Fairytales didn't get wrong for bortsprungt and its creators Yuya and Ms. Nagi.