In his placement year, Wataru had the honour of interning for John Galliano in Paris, right before his re-entry into fashion via Margiela. Here, Wataru would spend his time researching historical menswear in museums, which was then used for later collections as references. “Spending time with John was funny and a memorable time for me,” tells me. “I think how Galliano is trying to design for Margiela is interesting, because it is a completely different aesthetic.”

Central to Wataru’s work is craftsmanship, and he hopes to establish a space for artists and designers who are working with a similar emphasis on quality and value. “I feel that craftsmanship is racking in artistic practice now, so I want to make a kind of space where people can share their practices.”