| Designer: Yohmini Yoshikawa- Born 3/7/07 Boutique: SWS Designs at Beverly Hills (78,209,33) |
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HD: Where in the great RL universe are you living?
YY: In Holland, near the border with Germany.
HD: When and why did you join SL?
YY: I entered SL, let me check ... on March 7th last year, just as a curiosity to see what was true from all the storeis I already read on the internet. As I am not a gambler nor a gamer nor a real chatter, I always avoided platforms or environments like these. So how enormous was my surprise as I was finding myself stranded in SL just wanting to style my avatar as my old fashion design blood started surfacing again. When I was young, I was trained at one of the finest fashion schools of my time in Holland. At some point, I turned my back on the fashion industry and concentrated on other skills such as interior design, photography, graphics design, web design and flash animations. So when I entered the SL world, I was very curious about the software they used to build this world. Soon after, I found out you had to rent a place or buy in order not to lose the things you had already made.
HD: How long have you been designing in SL?
YY: Since the beginning.
HD: What prompted you to start designing?
YY: So that's what I did. Totally unaware that many would come by and see what you were actually doing. So the initial reaction to my work took me by surprise and as I got more used to it, I met some very nice people, especially Fido Fudo who was so sweet and encouraged me to stay in SL after she heard of my abilities and convinced me that I could achieve something in here.
After many more compliments about my work, I gained a lot of confidence and gave myself some time off to try to setup a real business in SL totally made from my own perspective. Before I knew it, I was hooked on the 3D platform for designing and really enjoyed fashion designing. I finally felt comfortable with my abilities. Now I could show what I was capable of, even without big investors like you would normally need for a real life company. I invested some of my savings in SL and a lot of time and energy. Sometimes, I even wonder how my PC is still in the house because sometimes I have felt like throwing it out the window after losing precious information after a crash. But my pc is my dearest friend, my tool to express myself and gives me all the tools to stay focused and to create more and more.
HD: How would you describe your style?
YY: I find it difficult to speak of my style, the only thing I can say about it is that I have always been focused on the detail and that I like to design what I would love to wear myself. In real life, I like to wear a "sportive chique", it is sexy and feminine looking without being too provocative. Then switch to the "basic collection" in the same color range. Just by replacing the accessories, you now have a completely different outfit. It's like going out in the morning in one outfit and being able to go clubbing just by changing one item of clothing and wearing other shoes and accessories.
HD: When SL residents wear your clothes, what do you want them to feel?
YY: I want them to feel attractive, feminine, self assured and living a millionaire's dream.
HD: Tell us about your latest designs?
YY: So If you have an eye on that one guy but don't exactly know what to wear on the first date then you must have this set:) Its available in black, red, apple green, ocean, purple blue, dark taupe and fuschia. It can be changed in an instant from a sexy young look to a classy chic style and everything in between.
HD: What advice would you give an up and coming SL designer?
YY: Try to be different than anyone else and establish a very recognizable style. Go to great lengths to establish your branding and the look of your boutiques.
HD: What do you know now that you wish you had known when you started?
YY: I was fortunate to have a lot of knowledge before I became an SL fashion designer but maybe they should be warned that it takes a tremendous amount of patience and time commitment if they want to accomplish something.
HD: Please tell us one or two notes about you as a fashion designer that you would like to share with the SL world?
YY: I want to thank all of you who have supported me so far, all my loyal customers who are also starting to become dear friends because I am missing some of this in RL. Some people I know think I'm a complete fool for spending so much time in SL but I really want to accomplish something which would give me great satisfaction and some recognition.
Best of luck to Yohmini Yoshikawa!
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