This week I’m really excited to welcome onto the blog Masato Jones… I discovered Masato (and Mike, his partner) on Twitter this summer and fell in love with the Masato London designs. I bought a fabulous shirt dress, and although in my photo I’m modelling it with buttons done up, it is so adaptable to many different looks and the colours are just fab! If you want a real bargain, and are a size 10, check out their sample sales at the end of each season – you won’t be disappointed! So, without further ado, hello and welcome:
Hi! I’m Masato Jones originally from Tokyo, Japan, I came here to learn English in 2003 and never went back home except to visit. I originally was a hair stylist in Yokohama and Tokyo and developed a taste for fashion whilst in Brighton and applied for Central St Martins. They liked my designs and in 2005, I started my degree and graduated in 2009 after a year out with Giles Deacon. I developed my partner’s surname to mix the Masato (my real name) with Jones and the label Masato London is both of us (myself and Mike) with my designs at the label’s heart. I’m work focussed, I rarely party – I’m more content talking to someone over dinner than a fashion party.
Have you always wanted to be a designer?
Yes, I loved the variety of the designers especially in my first home in the UK – Brighton -the mix of what people wear in this city, it is so cosmopolitan and such fun ! I now live in London (since 2005).
What do you like best about being a fashion designer? I know that a lot of your designs have been influenced by your Japanese heritage,so what else has given you inspiration?
The chance to create something a woman can wear, whether she is 17 or 70 and recently I’m developing menswear, although without investment, it’s costly to cross over completely. Japanese heritage does creep into my designs from the shape of the kimono to the western style.
Do you enjoy the buzz of the fashion shows? Do you get nervous beforehand? How far in advance to you prepare for the fashion shoots?
I love the fashion shows, especially the public ones we have developed through public investment of our social media audience assisting us, so it is important for me to show to the public rather than a closed show to media and the fashion buyers, although they are very important too. I do get nervous beforehand – the day before and backstage, as each collection is different, you are only as good as your last collection, so it is nerve racking as you don’t know what the reaction is going to be. We have to prepare 4 to 6 months ahead, this is due to gaining the right venue, fashion show, etc. I still work as a creative pattern cutter for Giles certain times of the year so this has to be scheduled in also.
Have you a favourite fashion show location? Is there any location where you’d love to see your designs strutting the runway but haven’t physically done so yet?.
Yes, for me New York would be an amazing fashion show location as would St Paul’s Cathedral or Kew Gardens. I also like the idea of an empty factory – this gives you a blank canvas to work with and present art from other artists. It’s such a struggle to be in the right place at the right time and the right place at the right time should be happening at the right times more often.
Have you got a favourite out of all you’ve designed? 
There are so many- there is an early design from 2009, Kimono jacket & Dementor dress from 2012 collection, the gold cape coat, Mint fishtail and Poppy dresses from Spring 2013.
Who would you like to see parading around in your designs that haven’t done so as yet? (as far as you know!!)
Kate Winslet, Helen Mirren, Judi Dench, Amy Adams, Carey Mulligan.
Personal now – what outfits and shoes would you normally be found wearing?
I’m a typical designer – I wear clothes from charity shops mainly, also clothes that have been sent to me, but I’m very casual. I have a Michael Kors pair of cords that I love, I always wear Puma and mix designer with high street.
Do you have any favourite shops or online sites?
Uniqlo, Zara, Charity shops such as Shelter, Cancer Research, Oxfam. Online shop.masato.co.uk of course lol
What’s next on your clothes/shoe wish list?
I will go where my feet take me, I rarely get time to myself except Easter and Christmas usually, so it’s probably going to be Pretty Green, Zara, Uniqlo, Bershka, John Lewis, John Rocha.
Boots or Shoes?
Definitely shoes, not so much boots, more trainers Converse or Puma, you are either an Adidas fan or Puma – I’m a Puma fan. I had a trip around their factory in Nuremberg, Germany last February – that was cool.
Links you would like to share e.g. website/facebook/twitter etc so that readers can find out more about your products.
blog : http://masatostudio.blogspot.co.uk/
Twitter : masatostudio
Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/masato.jones
Pinterest : http://pinterest.com/masatolondon/
Thank you for a fabulous interview Masato ..and we wish you continuing success!
Linda x
Photo Credits: Photos published with kind permission from Masato Jones; Adam Hobden Photography; Linda Hobden
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