My life as a bridal fashion designer in Berlin. Volume 1.

Hello all! 

It's been a while since I posted a blog here.

I've been blessed in the last years that LSB is growing steadily, and I'm too busy working my magic on clients throughout the year (almost all my clients call me "magician"!) to find time for writing a new blog.

Recently, I was asked by the moderator of one of the FB groups I'm in to write what will be a monthly feature about my life and career as a bridal fashion designer in Berlin, Germany.  

It's been on the back of my mind to tell my story, so, I've gladly accepted the offer.

The first post had a huge positive reaction, so, it was a no brainer to post it on my blog as well!

Now the introduction is done, here is the first post!

I’ve been living in Berlin, since the beginning of 2016. For this first post, I want to introduce my roots and for the second issue in the new year, I want to touch down on my life in London before moving on to my current life in Berlin!

I was born in Kagoshima, Japan. I didn’t have a happy childhood, my parents were abusive, although my mum was later diagnosed with a thyroid issue and once she was on the medication, she was emotionally stable and with a lot of effort on her side, fixed our relationship.

Growing up in an especially conservative part of Japan, I always felt I was living in the wrong place, it was too stifling, and I never felt accepted for being who I was. I was sure I didn't have a future there.

My dad had a heart attack and died when I was 12, which was an emotionally liberating moment but with it, brought out a lot of anger that I’ve been suppressing all my life. 

It was at the time when I was starting secondary school and my new teacher picked me as a target to bully because I just lost my dad. Years later, she wrote me a letter to apologise and said she did it to relieve the stress she had at the time. I stopped going to school eventually. It was the darkest time in my life.

I’ve been obsessed with dressmaking and fashion ever since I remember watching my mum making my clothes. I wanted to work in fashion, but in my hometown, women shouldn’t have career ambitions.

I also had a fascination with languages. As a little girl, I was frustrated with being monolingual and watched Sesame Street on TV religiously, the only English speaking program we had at the time.

And then, one day, it all clicked. I told myself, I’ll go to London to study fashion! I knew nothing about the UK, the education system etc. It was a pure instinct and was the best decision ever.

My mum didn’t think I’d be in London for more than a year but thought it was good for me to learn English and see the world.

So, in 1995, almost 16 years old, and without a word of English, I took a British Airways flight alone, Tokyo - LHR.