Hello, my name is Ryonggi Oh. I've spent 13 years in the fashionindustry, starting with experiences in domestic apparel company and overseas
luxury brands. I also worked with fabric trading companies as a fabric designer and domestic production .After graduating, I worked at apparel company and later enrolled in a fashion institute. During my studies, I won a competition in the United States, leading to an internship at a luxury fashionhouse "Maison Lemarie" in France the following year.
in 2017,During the internship in France, I was involved in the creation of haute couture collections, working as a designer.
This journey took me from fast fashion to the world of haute couture, and the experiences there continue to influence my perspective today. Creating a single dress could take up to 200 hours, especially when it involved intricate embroidery. The embroidery was not just about drawing with thread on fabric but also incorporating three-dimensional elements like feathers and artificial flowers, meticulously sewn one stitch at a time, making the dress a piece of art. Seeing models walk the runway in these creations was moving, but what truly gave me a sense of fulfillment was when customers admired the dress, understood how much time and effort had gone into it, and appreciated the craft. It was an indescribable feeling.
Upon graduating from institute, I had the opportunity to participate in Vancouver Fashion Week in Canada, thanks to the graduation collection I created. I presented a total of 13 looks during the event. This fashion week is a unique occasion that provides emerging designers and students who have won awards in contests the chance to showcase their work from around the world. It became a platform for me to reflect on what I wanted to achieve, communicate, and convey through my designs. It also prompted me to think about what viewers might feel, think, and seek when observing my creations.
After returning to Japan, I joined a small factory in Osaka, where I learned the skills involved in the process of intermediate ironing. Many people associate factories with sewing machines, but intermediate ironing plays a crucial role in shaping garments before they are complete. In reality, this role is pivotal in determining the overall quality of the finished product. The factory had about five workers, and they excelled in intricate clothing production, almost like solving a puzzle. While any factory could sew a basic shirt with similar results, the complexity increased when it came to intricate designs. Deciding how to finish the garment at each step was a prerequisite, as making a mistake along the way was often irreversible. Therefore, meticulous planning and thinking ahead were essential. The handcrafted nature of the work, which machines couldn't replicate, contributed to the distinct quality of the clothing. I realized that there was an innate, sensory appeal to clothing made with pride.
With the knowledge and techniques I acquired during this period, Istarted thinking about creating something of value. That's when 'NTSN' was born.
