Noritaka

I have hardly been outside today, and got wet through when I did go out.

I joined a Zoom presentation by a Japanese designer/artist called Tatehana Noritaka.  He was in Tokyo and the audience were all V&A Friends in the UK.

He is best known for his impossible shoes, shown being worn by Lady Gaga on the magazine cover in this multiple.  She's a huge fan and has about 40 pairs. You can see examples in the V&A South Kensington..

He told us that he had not done well at his Japanese Craft University because it was conservative and he was not.  While he was showing these shoes at his graduation show, Lady Gaga was planning a Japanese tour and asked for ideas of local contemporary fashion that she could wear.  He wrote to her and got a reply within 15 minutes saying "YES!", and the rest is history.

He also made the ornate drums on show in the Young V&A's Japan: Myths to Manga exhibition, and he has a kimono in V&A Dundee's Kimono exhibition. So he's doing quite well.