Photo: MoA 2006

Photo: Antti Ukkonen

Photo: Tuomas Yrjänäinen

Photo: Leyla Avsar

Mai Ohta

Fashion and Clothing Design
1980, Japan
Regina – collection
Interplay

I wondered how my collection could have a stronger impact on the audience. The idea I came up with was to combine fashion with another form of expression I love: music. On the stage, music and fashion have a strong influence on each other.
In a fashion show, one outfit is visible for a maximum of 1 minute, whereas in a concert a single look can last on the stage 30 minutes or even longer. If using more than one set of costumes in a concert, the outfits can have a major impact on how the audience perceives the band’s image and the ambiance of the performance. This collection is made for Iisa Pajula, the singer of Regina, a new rising Finnish band known for their cool electronic pop. The opinions Iisa shared with me during the design process led to different ways of making costumes and recognizing the whole concept of a stage outfit. In the end I had to consider thoroughly the image of Regina, the atmosphere of their concerts, Iisa’s personal style and how I could bring my own ideas into her costumes.

Biography

Mai Ohta was born in Yamaguchi, Japan. She graduated from Yamaguchi Prefectural University, Bachelor of Human Life Sciences, Fashion design in Japan 2003. A part of her final work in Japan was made with a fabric provided by Marimekko Company. Partly because of that, she became interested in Finnish Design. This was one of the reasons she decided to apply to University of Art and Design Helsinki in 2003. Her design inspirations come from Finnish traditional motifs, cultures and Finnish people. She combines them with the Japanese way of making and thinking.

Contact:

+358 40 771 0581
mai.ohta(at)hotmail.com

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Other Masters in this theme:
Tiina Aarras | Tero Jakku | Piia Keto | Reka Kiraly | Satu Paukkonen | Matti Suominen | Jeremiah Tesolin