A imi S A ik A w A
Aimi Saikawa, raised in Sydney’s North, blends her Japanese heritage with Australian culture in her design journey. She began with film photography, capturing daily life in Australia and her travels to Japan. These journeys shape her exploration of urban life and nature, oscillating between her family’s Zen temple in Kobe and her father’s Tokyo residence. Aimi studies at the Whitehouse Institute of Design, where she delved into fashion. Denim, with its rich history and craftsmanship, holds a special place in her heart. She values traditional methods and machinery used in Japan, emphasizing sustainability and longevity in her designs.
“Formwork” captures the essence of contemporary urban elegance by drawing inspiration from the bold and unyielding beauty of brutalist architecture. Bold, sculptural, and defined by strong lines, the collection echoes the strength evoked by this architectural style. However, it also establishes a conversation between the past and the future through the reflection of recycled concrete in the primary fabric, which is denim made of recycled cotton fibers. Old practices are recontextualized and reevaluated, as concrete, a material associated with the mundane and conformity, is reimagined. The collection encapsulates the spirit of transformation, where the rigid becomes fluid, strength finds elegance, and the classic meets the future.
