We want to deliver warmth and tenderness through our handcrafted work.

Adorable, subtly sweet, and gentle. Hanasugiyama is a handmade brand whose designs, while bursting with fresh sensibility, possess a strangely nostalgic quality that captivates the hearts of those who hold them. In designer Hana Sugiyama's atelier, a treasure chest filled with things she loves, we spoke at length about the brand, which is now in its third year since its launch, and about her reasons for choosing handmade crafts as her profession.

The joy of creating and sharing with others

Ms. Sugiyama just graduated from Musashino Art University in 2024. She is the youngest designer to have appeared in this magazine in the past. Ms. Sugiyama grew up with a stylish mother who attended Bunka Fashion College. Influenced by her mother, who made bags and doll clothes for her from a young age, Ms. Sugiyama herself developed a love for handicrafts. After spending her youth loving vintage clothing and antiques, her interest in styling and stage costume design grew, and she went to Musashino Art University to learn expressive skills and techniques.

While still a student, she and a friend held an exhibition, and a shop that saw it on social media contacted them, leading to her selling handmade clothes in a physical store. To her surprise, every single item sold at the sales event. This is how Sugiyama's talent began to blossom while she was still a student.

"I was truly moved to know that there are people who actually want to wear the things I make. I just made things because I love making them, and I found joy in the act of making itself, but through the experience of selling my work, I learned that there is another kind of joy beyond just making things."

After graduating from university in 2024, I learned design through an internship and launched my handmade brand, hanasugiyama, using the same design I presented for my graduation project as my debut item. I wanted to cherish the warmth and freedom of handmade items and the sense of security that comes from wearing small, endearing motifs, so almost all of the products are one-of-a-kind pieces made by Sugiyama herself. And they are real clothes that actually add color to everyday life.

"When I first entered university, I was interested in unrealistic stage costumes, but as I continued to make clothes and deliver them to people who bought them, my interests shifted from 'glamorous and theatrical things' to 'the fun and preciousness of everyday life.' I think that's because I was able to witness firsthand how the clothes I made with my own hands became a part of the daily lives of those who wore them. Glamorous dresses and other clothes worn on special occasions are wonderful, but I really want the things I make to be something that can be worn often in everyday life, something that makes the wearer's days more enjoyable. That's why I want to stick to real clothes."

Sugiyama's style of making each item by hand limits production volume and is time-consuming. Nevertheless, he continues to work with his hands every day, creating a variety of items.
"Just like how happy I was as a child to carry the bag my mother made for me, there's something special about the attachment you feel to handmade items, and there's a richness in reflecting on the story behind them. That's why, even if it's difficult, I want to cherish the act of making things with my own hands."

One-of-a-kind everyday wear that makes every day special.

From the bright red knit sweaters she longed for as a girl, to the flowers, ribbons, lace, and adorable embroidered animals, hanasugiyama's designs possess a不思議な atmosphere where newness and nostalgia coexist, and are filled with the unique warmth that comes from things made by human hands.

"I like vintage clothing and antiques, and I also enjoy looking at fashion magazines from the 80s and 90s. I don't consciously think about it, but the things I create are probably influenced by all those things I like. I don't really pay attention to trends or bestsellers; instead, I reflect on my own daily memories and the emotions that come with them, and then I decide on a theme for each piece I create."

The "Adding a Touch of Antique Charm to Everyday Life: A Gathering of Filet Crochet" kit from Couturier, supervised by Ms. Sugiyama, is a kit for making girly and somewhat nostalgic accessories using filet crochet. "I've enjoyed shopping at Felissimo for a long time, but this is my first time working with them. I usually don't draw patterns, so I was a little nervous about creating a kit that would allow all customers to make the same thing, but I'm happy that we were able to create such a wonderful kit. It may look complicated, but it's surprisingly easy, so I hope that not only knitting enthusiasts but also beginners will enjoy knitting it. Even if the number of stitches increases, decreases, or shifts somewhere, I think that's part of the charm of handmade items, so I hope you'll enjoy it without worrying too much."

Hanasugiyama is steadily gaining fans and is now entering its third year. How will they continue to grow in the future?
"My days are hectic with receiving orders, creating, and presenting my work, but I also want to enjoy creating things freely. Right now, I enjoy making everything. When I'm making one thing, an idea for the next thing I want to make pops into my head, so I make that too. It's a cycle. The other day, a student told me that she worked hard at her part-time job because she wanted to wear hanasugiyama clothes, and she bought some of my clothes. I've had a similar experience myself, so I was happy to know that there are people who have my clothes as their goal. I cherish embroidery, knitting, and all kinds of handmade items, and I would be happy if I could continue to make real clothes that are close to the lives of those who wear them."

Supervised by Hana Sugiyama ⭐︎ Add a touch of antique charm to your everyday life: A crochet workshop

Using thick yarn and a simple knitting technique, you can easily create a lovely item that will add a touch of elegance to your outfit. It's not only great to wear, but it also looks absolutely stunning as a decorative piece for your interior!

Add a touch of antique charm to your everyday life: The Stylish Grid Knitting Club

Designer　

Hana Sugiyama

Born in Tokyo. Graduated from Musashino Art University, Department of Spatial Design in 2024. While still a student, she began creating and exhibiting handcrafted products, and officially launched her brand hanasugiyama with the Autumn/Winter 2024 collection.

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Instagram:@hana_no_art_