What inspired you to become a fashion designer?

Sonoko Takeda began sewing at 15 after first discovering weaving as a child. She later studied dyeing and weaving design in college and built a career creating costumes for opera, dance, and other stage productions.

How would you describe your design style?

Her work draws on 25 years of costume design experience and a deep knowledge of dyeing and weaving. NITENMON reimagines kimono fabrics in contemporary forms while highlighting their distinctive colours, patterns, and craftsmanship.

What can people expect from your latest collection?

“Time and Distance” explores a new expression of kimono through vintage silk fabrics. The collection combines traditional craftsmanship with a contemporary perspective, highlighting the individual colours, patterns, and woven qualities of each textile.

Why do you use vintage kimono fabrics in your designs?

Sonoko sees kimono fabrics as remarkable examples of Japanese craftsmanship and wants more people to experience them in familiar, wearable forms. Transforming these textiles into clothing gives their traditional techniques a new contemporary context.

How does the narrow width of vintage kimono silk shape the “Time and Distance” collection?

The collection works with vintage silk approximately 14 inches wide, reflecting the traditional dimensions of kimono fabric. Its construction makes use of the textiles’ individual weaving characteristics, colours, and patterns while reinterpreting them through contemporary design.