A Collaborative Journey of Resplendent Design
Designer Yuka Uehara’s new gallery showcasing traditional Japanese artistic crafts BY CRISTINA DEPTULA PHOTO CREDIT RICHARD VAN
“San Francisco is an intimate, artistic, and liberal city. Every time I meet a new person I feel like I uncover a new subculture. Because of the city’s friendliness and diversity, I feel encouraged to explore and challenge myself creatively.” — Yuka Uehara, quoted in Haute Couture’s 2017 feature on new San Francisco designers.
Designer and artist Yuka Uehara launched Tokyo Gamine in 2015 so that she could work together with her clients to create individualized couture. Her client list includes San Francisco’s symphony, opera, and ballet as well as the Girls Chorus, and she outfitted the symphony for a production of Candide. Her designs take inspiration from nature, mythology, and psychology and are often influenced by the wearer’s personal history. “I found inspiration in nature and its subtle relations within my use of color and shape. I try to translate its growth and decay and the soundscape of its interactions into my works. Like the natural world, I’ve been trying to have a more holistic approach to my art practice. It’s not just about the garments; it’s the environment, the wearer, and how all these elements interact to create a unified sensorial approach.” Haute Couture Magazine has described Uehara as part of ‘San Francisco’s Fashionocracy.’ She’s self-taught,
crafting kimonos with traditional techniques and all of her clothing with fabrics from all around the world. A signature Uehara gown includes antique kimono panels and raw silk that she paints herself with flowers or abstract designs.
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