Satomi Imai, designer for Black Peace Now and Black Peace Now for Men (Photo by: Lydia)

Following the Black Peace Now, Black Peace Now for Men and Peace Now fashion shows, MTV Iggy‘s Foxy brought Black Peace Now and Black Peace Now for Men designer, Satomi Imai to the stage for a Question & Answer session with Ms. Imai who was accompanied by a translator.

A transcript of the Q&A that took place Saturday, August 15 can be found below as well as video of the Q&A.

Host: Welcome to San Francisco. Congratulations on the opening of your U.S. flagship store right here at NEW PEOPLE Center. Please tell us about Peace Now and Black Peace Now and especially how they differ from other Lolita brands.

Ms. Imai: Peace Now and Black Peace Now are actually Gothic brands and not Lolita brands. I would say what makes us different from other brands in particular is that its really easy to wear and good for everydaywear and thus its a good brand to start with for beginners out there.

More Q&As, photos and video after the jump.

Host: Now the two brands have quite a unique moniker, but where did the names come from? Black Peace [sic] and Black Peace Now.

Ms. Imai: Actually when I joined the company, Peace Now as a brand name already existed so I’m actually not quite sure where the name came from. But, in terms of Black Peace Now, we decided to seperate the line that is more casual, that is the Peace Now line, from the more dark and true gothic line, which is Black Peace Now.

MTV Iggy's Foxy, BPN's Satomi Imai and translator (Photo by: Lydia)

Host: Are you involved in designing clothes for Peace Now and Black Peace Now?

Ms. Imai: I actually don’t do any designs for Peace Now, but I do do designs for both the men’s and women’s line of Black Peace Now.

Host: Have you always been interested in fashion? When did you discover Lolita fashion and Black Peace Now?

Ms. Imai: Actually I was interested in fashion from when I was quite young because I was really tall, even as a sixth grader, and so I felt that the fashion world might be good for me. In terms of Gothic fashions in particular, ever since I joined Peace Now, I started experimenting more with darker and more Gothic line of clothing. In terms of actually joining Peace Now, I actually called up the company and said I really like your clothing, I would like to come work for you and they set me up with an appointment with our CEO and founder.

Host: Who is the first designer that inspired you? Your first designer that you fell in love with?

Ms. Imai: Jean Paul Gaultier

Satomi Imai with a translator during the BPN Q&A at the NEW PEOPLE opening on Aug. 15

Host: Please tell us what a typical day in the life of Satomi is like.

Ms. Imai: I also work on the production as well as the design of our clothing so I start with the very initial sketch until the finished product is created.

Host: What does Lolita mean to you?

Translator: Gothic.

Host: Yes. What does Gothic mean to you?

Ms. Imai: It has a very clean and crisp feeling to me. It’s not negative at all. A lot of times when people say Gothic they think of something dark and negative or depressing, but to me it’s very refreshing.

Satomi Imai speaking at the BPN Q&A at NEW PEOPLE (Photo by: Lydia)

Host: What musicians are you inspired? What musicians inspire your Goth Black Peace [sic] and Black Peace Now?

Ms. Imai: I actually, myself, like a wide range of music of all kinds of genre. For those of you that are knowledgable about Japanese music, I do like visual kei bands, in particular Penicillin. But I also listen to a lot of classic and jazz as well.

Host: Do you enjoy any pop culture genre like anime or manga? If so, do you have a favorite series.

Ms. Imai: I really love both. The movie that we are showing later today, 20th Century Boys, I love the original manga that the movie is based on. I’m also a big fan of Rumiko Takahashi. In particular, Lum or Urusei Yatsura and the Mermaid Scar series.

Host: BPN has collaborated with non-Lolita brands such as Volks dolls and a few musical artists. If you had the opportunity to collaborate with any artist, musician or talent wherever, living or not, who would it be?

Ms. Imai: I don’t have anyone or any company in particular in mind, but I’d like to be involved with as many types of people and many different kinds of companies as possible.

Host: If you had an opportunity to be anything else other than a designer, what would you be?

Ms. Imai: I think I’d be some sort of artist, creative artist. Whether a sculptor or something where I could make something with my hands.

Host: Back to the Gothic fashion world. How have you seen it change since you joined it as a professional designer, either in the designs or the people wearing them?

Ms. Imai: When I started, there really weren’t too many people familiar and it wasn’t part of everyday language, these words “Gothic” and “Lolita.” Those who were fans of the genre were very quiet about it, they didn’t congregate and so forth. So in that sense, it has really exploded. As you can see, there are many people that are wearing it and are proud to wear it.

Foxy with Satomi Imai (Photo by: Lydia)

Host: What do you think of the NEW PEOPLE center?

Ms. Imai: I think it’s quite a wonderful place and it’s so great to have so many aspects of Japanese culture all concetrated in one place. I hope everyone will have a chance to walk through it as often as possible.

Host: You have a chance to speak to your audience here. I want to know if you have any message for your U.S. fans and the folks that have come here today to hear you out.

Ms. Imai: I’d like to thank everyone for coming out, especially in this really warm weather. I’m so happy that you have come to support us and I wish that – we will work very hard in continuing to produce many wonderful Peace Now and Black Peace Now items. I hope for your continued support. Thank you very much.

Black Peace Now Q&A at the J-pop Summit on Aug. 15 (Photo by: Lydia)

posted by Umi
Tags: aristocrat, black peace now, bpn, celebrities, Events, gothic lolita, japanese brands, new people, san francisco, Viz
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