What is unique about their prints and designs is that they do not have a distinct leaning towards either being very Japanese, or very British. That fine balance and blend of each other’s characters brings out the vibrant and ever changing but very noticeable styles of their prints.

Where do their inspiration come from? The spokesperson at the shop told me: “They are often asked that question… their inspiration comes from everyday life, what they pick up on, filter through themselves and interpret in their designs. They certainly do not go about their creations with business concepts foremost on their minds.”

The store had initially been leased for just three months by Typical, the furniture designer unit that collaborates with Eley Kishimoto on all their furniture activities. But now that seems to change, as the popularity of the shop has been high. There are now possibilities of extending the lease period. For the future, the pair hopes to expand their ever-growing clothes designs as well as putting more focus on furniture (in collaboration also with Osaka based furniture designers Graf,) and also other lifestyle products.

Sky seems to be the limit for Eley Kishimoto, but if you want to catch up on their past designs, you’d better hurry up!

Eley Kishimoto Archive Store
Date: July 6th – End of September, 2003 (possibly longer)
Open: 10:30 – 18:30
Address: 40 Snowfields, London SE1
Tel: +44 (0)20 7357 0037
https://www.eleykishimoto.com