NYLON - September 2008 - (Page 94) THE DUO BEHIND NEW YORK-BASED LINE IDEEËN ARE CREATING PIECES ONLY THE BOLD CAN PULL OFF. BY RAJNI LUCIENNE JACQUES. PHOTOGRAPHED BY JORGE CAMAROTTI “Our designs are not for everyone,” explains Junko Hirata, who along with fellow designer Atsuko Yanase created the clothing line Ideeën. “We are very directional, so only a woman who understands our aesthetic will be able to wear it well.” Hirata and Yanase met in New York while working for French designer Catherine Malandrino. After leaving, and doing their own thing for a year, they decided to collaborate and design a line of women’s clothing. With influences from Paris (where they both once lived), Tokyo (where they grew up), and New York (where they live now), Hirata and Yanase have designed a line that combines traditional and experimental elements such as using high-tech fabrics like 100 percent polyester that has been specially treated to produce a glossy effect, and pairing it with knits and jerseys. “No one is showing anything quite like this. We are bringing something new,” says Hirata, “and that’s exactly what people are looking for.” Ideeën, “ideas” in Dutch, is in its first full season. (Yanase and Hirata showed a smaller summer capsule line before gearing up to present a complete fall collection.) The line boasts key pieces like a double-faced knit rider jacket, lace-up pants, a metallic yarn layered tank which gathers at one side to create an unusual shape, and a nylon puffer jacket and tote. It’s Ideeën’s utilitarian details make the line stand out. Each piece can be worn a few different ways, and by using heavy zippers and fastening components as well as varying textures, the collection creates a more aggressive approach to design. “We were inspired by archaeology and different forms, and we love working with various shapes within our staple palette of black and grey,” says Hirata. “Next season we might use brighter colors mixed in with our signature black and grey.” They have a very strong vision of how they would like Ideeën to develop in the future. “We make quality pieces and want to be known for our attention to detail,” says Hirata. If they keep up the conceptual aesthetic with their conventional cuts and draping techniques, they’ll have no problem becoming New York’s newest design darlings. “We want to be a brand that has a hardcore customer, like the confident downtown girls who know how to wear not-so-commercial clothing,” says Hirata. “We don’t do limited-edition, but that’s because each piece is special.” LOOK WHO’S TALKING ON THE IFC CHANNEL’S ROCK THIS FALL, JOAN RIVERS PLAYS THE FICTIONAL AUNT OF THE NON-FICTIONAL BAND CO2. HERE, SHE TALKS ABOUT HER NEW PROJECT AND THE EVOLUTION OF TELEVISION. They wanted me to be in one episode. They sent me a pilot and I said I’d like to be in many more than one. They were like, “Well how?” and I said, “Make me someone’s relative.” WAS THERE A MOMENT WHEN YOU REALIZED YOU WANTED TO BE A TV STAR? HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED WITH THE SHOW? Paar and then Johnny Carson. We always thought, “Oh, wouldn’t that be great?” And Lucy, I think for all of us proved you could be pretty and funny. You could be a clown and still get married and have children and wear nice clothes. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE CURRENT PROLIFERATION OF REALITY TELEVISION? like Curb Your Enthusiasm are brilliant. People have the idea that you can just go out there and do reality and some of them are so embarrassingly weak. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE MOMENTS IN TELEVISION? Reality shows? Zzzzz. I like My mother grew up watching Jack scripted reality shows. Things I loved Bing Crosby Merry Old Christmas from 1977 when Bing dueted “The Little Drummer Boy” with David Bowie. It was so moving that for a moment I forgot how much Bing loved to beat the shit out of his kids. Also, In 1964, when Jack Paar laughed and laughed while trying to pretend that Judy Garland slid out of her chair intentionally. Britney Spears has nothing on that crazy bag of pills. MR 94 stylist: kate erwin. hair and makeup: min min ma at the work group using nars. model: irina at one. jacket, top, pants, and bag by ideeën, boots by miu miu, hat by ellen christine. THE BIG IDEA
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