Eley Kishimoto interview

We now sell lots of lovely Eley Kishimoto pieces in our Covent Garden boutique and online. This is really exciting as we've long been admirers of Eley Kishimoto, who are masters of colour and pattern. Mark Eley, of the husband and wife team behind the brand, had a chat with us... How did your career start? By meeting my partner Wakako Kishimoto, getting married and getting a studio together in 1992. What are yours tips for becoming a sucessful designer? I can't really give any tips for being a successful designer as we are still trying ourselves and don't really know what success is. All I can say in becoming a happy designer is: be true to yourself, be brave, inspired, motivated, action your desires and work without a care in the world to achieve your dreams. You work as a partnership, a bit like Rosie and Harriet of Tatty Devine! What makes you such a good partnership? We are both very different in class, culture, taste, height etc, and these differences make the world a better place if we can live and work in harmony. You are from Wales, and Wakako is from Japan - how does that inform your partnership and designs? My ideas are pagan and Wakako's are cultured. How do you come up with your patterns? By answering deadlines. What are you inspired by at the moment? Motorbikes still and the oncoming summer months. What are your favourite shops? Motorbike Shops, Chocolate Shops, and Milk Shake Bars. Who are your favourite other designers? I like a specific period of Yves Saint Laurent, I like On Kawara the artist, Sheguru Ban the architect, and Cyril Duval for someone who I think is contemporary. You've been called "the patron saints of print" - if you could make anybody a saint, who would it be and why? Myself, then people would not think I am a sinner. What's next for Eley Kishimoto? Lots of Life.

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