2013

YUIMA NAKAZATO “HEAVEN”

Coming from a family where art has always been practised—mother is a jewellery designer, father is a sculptor—Yuima views fashion as a means of self-expression. Therefore, he pushes beyond its conventional boundaries, creating sculptural and performative garments that don’t necessarily prioritise practicality or wearability. 
His work aims to evoke amazement and spark imagination, conceived as a fusion of futuristic, sci-fi, and tribal elements, realised with innovative materials and hologram pieces. Nakazato integrates elements from Japanese tradition and modernity—ranging from origami and samurai armour to manga—and combines them with Western influences such as Leonardo da Vinci’s designs for flying or war machines. 
He creates visionary yet meticulously crafted accessories and garments that seem made for future humans—elegant, intriguing, and genderless. 
It is no coincidence that he draws inspiration from the work of masters of transdisciplinary creativity, such as Björk, and collaborates with icons of contemporary transformation, including Lady Gaga and the Black Eyed Peas. 

Yuima Nakazato graduated from the Antwerp Royal Academy of Fine Arts, specialising in fashion at master's level. His Graduate Collection, “Wooden Dimension," received several awards, including the ITS#7 (International Talent Support Seven) VERTICE Award and the BVBA32 [INNOVATION] Award from Ann Demeulemeester. 
COCCODRILLO shoes have won awards twice and are part of the permanent collection at the ModeMuseum in Antwerp. He participated in ARNHEM MODE BIENNALE 2009.
In 2009, he launched his own line and label, “YUIMA NAKAZATO," alongside a shoe line sponsored by The Esperanza Footwear Institute since 2005. 
https://www.yuimanakazato.com/