Checking in with KITSUNE by Yoshi Yoshitani

written by Justin Prince (@prince_justin)

We here at Lifted Geek know how much you nerds love unique style and fashion, and for you guys I wanted to showcase an exciting new Kickstarter from illustrator & concept artist Yoshi Yoshitani. Join me and check out KITSUNE by Yoshi Yoshitani, this line features a reversible embroidered jacket as the centerpiece of the line and other accessories, including a hella dope belt bag, as stretch goals.

I know I’m excited for this to launch; as an avid follower of Yoshi Yoshitani’s work I am so jazzed to add KITSUNE by Yoshi Yoshitani to my ever expanding closet, but how about we get to know the creator a bit deeper.

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Justin Prince: Yoshi, thank you for taking the time out to chat with us for our audience here at Lifted Geek! With KITSUNE by Yoshi Yoshitani launching, how long have you been waiting to launch this project?

Yoshi Yoshitani: Thanks for having me Justin! This project has been in the works for years. Maybe about 3-4 years ago I saw a friend of mine design a sukajan, or a silk with embroidery souvenir jacket, for his company and I loved it so much. The jacket really captured his essence into a wearable form. I knew I just had to made one of my own. The rest of the line was created around the thought “if this jacket had friends, who would they be?” *laughs*

JP: And they’d work so well together eh? The Best of friends! SO! Obviously, the centerpiece of the collection is the beautiful reversible embroidered jacket. When designing it, where did you draw your inspiration from?

YY: One of the things I love about the history of sukajan jackets is that they are very much a fusion of eastern and western sensibilities. Also rebellion! I won’t get too much into that history here, but suffice it to say, I’m also a rebellious fusion of east and west. *laughs* All my work is really inspired by traditional arts. This particular piece was inspired the most by, obviously, Japanese kimono designs, but also Norwegian rosemaling patterns. 

the belt bag and the embroidered jacket

JP: How much of your own personal style and panache did you incorporate in the design? Personally speaking, how would you describe your own personal sense of style?

YY: I would consider my personal style as refined boldness. Honestly I am an artist first. Every look that I wear or haircut I’ve ever had I’ve drawn first and seen if it feels right. So making this line was the same thing, only this time instead of making my mood board, I made them into actual products.

JP: Refined boldness… I dig it, it’s an apt description. Would it be too off base to consider yourself a fashion icon? How would you react to that sort of description from your audience?

YY: *laughs* I have been called that by fans. Honestly it’s something I still feel a lot of imposter syndrome around. But it’s a title I would like to strive for.

JP: Totally feel ya there, imposter syndrome can come for the best of us! Anyway, when it comes to fashion, do you have any fashion icons you personally look up to? Did any of them influence your work here with KITSUNE by Yoshi Yoshitani?

YY: Maybe this will sound a little ridiculous, but most of my fashion icons are illustrators. Again, this comes from me being an illustrator myself and drawing all my looks beforehand. So Erte of course, but also Eyvind Earle. Modern day I love the work of Kevin Wada and Kris Anka— they are both great at distilling modern fashions into illustrations. And I also love Esther Quek, she’s got such a consistently confident look, I’m striving for that fierceness.

put ya thang down flip it and reverse it (the jacket that is)

JP: Looking forward, you mentioned that you will be including additional items as stretch goals. I know I’m looking forward to the belt bag, and obviously I want yours and our audience to be pleasantly surprised when the Kickstarter goes live… but roughly speaking, even if they didn’t make the final cut, what are some additional items that may or may not be stretch goals that you considered when putting this campaign together?

YY: The stretch goals I’ve fully planned include an embroidered baseball hat, the belt bag/fanny pack, a silkscreened women’s tank top, a men’s embroidered pocket t-shirt, and of course larger sizes. Minimum order requirements on the jackets mean I have to raise a lot more for XL and XXL sizes, but I’m hoping I’ll get there. Beyond that I’ve toyed with other item ideas that I’ve sketched out. But I’ll see how far I get first.

JP: Did you ever consider something other than the reversible jacket as the centerpiece of the project? If so, what was it?

YY: The jacket has always been my number one item that I’ve wanted. It’s also the most expensive to manufacture, so it makes sense to try to fundraiser for the most difficult item first. But if I had to pick another, it would be the belt bag. I’m honestly surprised and delighted by the amount of support that has come from the few photos I’ve shared. My fans are responding really well to the bag, and all my friends that have tried it have been really happy with it too!

JP: I know I’m looking forward to the belt bag! As an accomplished illustrator and concept artist, I know I was first drawn to you by your beautiful art work initially. Is KITSUNE by Yoshi Yoshitani your first foray into designing apparel?

YY: For production, yes. I’ve designed the occasional T-shirt graphic or Totebag before, and of course I’ve been drawing fashion, but this is my first whole hog endeavor. 

JP: As for this project, while working on KITSUNE by Yoshi Yoshitani, did you encounter any difficulties or road blocks? How did you get passed them to make it to launch?

YY: Well I started with the idea that I really wanted the jacket, but I had no idea who to talk to. I didn’t know anything about manufacturing, about which manufacturers were ethical to their employees, about which ones were good to work with, about which ones might steal your designs— nothing. This really stymied me for a while, trying to research when you have no starting point is hard! Luckily I met the people over at Fandomoid. They have been incredible point people and have done outstanding work. I can come to them with any idea and they figure out how to get it made well and ethically. It’s thanks to them I’ve been able to make more of my dream items! I know I’ll continue to work with them in future projects.

that oh so slick belt bag

JP: Now, creatively speaking, what has been your favorite part of working on this project?

YY: This is a tough one. I guess I would say the best part has been receiving the prototypes. It’s mind boggling seeing what was once just flat vector files transformed into a fully functional piece of art. You think something is going to look good, you hope it will, but you don’t actually know how it’s going to turn out until it’s in your hands. 

JP: If you knew back when you started this project what you knew now, would you have done anything differently?

YY: Probably contacted Fandomoid sooner. *laughs* But otherwise, nothing. It’s all been incredibly smooth and amazing. I’m so happy with how well people have responded to the prototypes, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.

JP: So what’s next? After launching this Kickstarter, do you have any concrete plans for the brand going forward?

YY: Nothing concrete. I want to see what people respond to before moving forward. But ideally I’ll make another line of apparel. Maybe TEAL TORA by Yoshi Yoshitani? *laughs* Let me workshop that a little and get back to you.

JP: Teal is like my third favorite color! I’d be all over that! Aside from the Kickstarter, do you have plans to make these items available outside off the campaign?

YY: Yes if funded I’ll be selling them online in my shop once I get the items. I’m also starting to reach out to some small boutiques to see if any of them are interested in carrying some of my product. Otherwise I’m also looking into getting an exhibitor booth at a convention or two. It’s bittersweet to move out of artist alley where I’ve been the past few years, but most conventions don’t allow merchandise to be sold in artist alley.

JP: Speaking of conventions actually, If someone wants to meet you in person, where do you plan to be next?

YY: The next will be C2E2 in Chicago and then ECCC in Seattle.

JP: As for when these items will go out to backers, when do you plan fulfillment to take place?

YY: Fulfillment will happen in the Spring of 2020!

JP: Do you have any advice for aspiring artists with ambitions to follow suit with what you’ve done here with KITSUNE by Yoshi Yoshitani?

YY: Get lots of feedback from your peers, it’ll only help you improve! And good luck!

JP: In closing, if people want to follow your work, where would be the best place to do so

YY: My website is yoshiyoshitani.com

I’m the most active on Twitter @yoshisquared and I have an Instagram @yoshiyoshitani

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So! For all you folks looking to get in on this, make sure to check out the Kickstarter page for KITSUNE by Yoshi Yoshitani and set a reminder. This goes live on November 18th! I know that I am very excited to contribute to this Kickstarter. Personally, I hope this pops off because I would love to see more fashions from Yoshi Yoshitani, just sayin.