Interview for Japion 19 Dec 2008 issue

Japion 19 Dec 2008----------Beauty Specialist

This time, we are interviewing the jewelry designer, Ms. Ayaka Nishi.

-Why did you decide to become a jewelry designer?

When I entered university, my mother said to me "if you design some jewelry, I'll have my jewelry- designer friend make the jewelry that you designed."The chance to design jewelry was a present from my mother. It was my first chance to design jewelry and I really enjoyed it. When I saw the jewelry that was made based on my design, I was really impressed. I studied Art History and Aesthetics at university and at the same time, I started learning jewelry making at the Jewelry Institute. After graduating university, I worked as a graphic designer for five years and at the same time, I was making jewelry on my own. A few years later, I was getting interested in learning more advanced jewelry-making techniques abroad and I decided to come to the U.S. My first plan was to study in Florence, Italy after studying in New York for half a year. But I really liked New York so I decided to stay there longer. I ended up entering the Fashion Institute of Technology. When I was a high school student, I read about New York because my favorite musician, Ryuichi Sakamoto, lives in New York. I had been hoping to live in New York some day.

-What kind jewelry do you make?

All of my jewelry is handmade and inspired by patterns found in nature such as spider webs, honey combs, fish scales, and flowers. Also, I prefer to use natural materials like stones. I once found a stone on the beach. It had been eroded by the waves into a really unique shape.-When do you get inspiration for your jewelry? Usually I get inspired by chance. For example, when I saw western armor at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, I noticed a unique texture that resembled fish scales. As a result, I made a series of jewelry based on the fish scale pattern.

-Do you have any advice on how to care for jewelry?

If you brush jewelry with a toothbrush and toothpaste, it works because toothpaste contains grinded powder. Also if your jewelry is seriously blacked by oxidation, I recommend that you o to a jewelry shop in the Diamond District of Manhattan. There are many jewelry shops there which have jewelry repair services for low prices.

-What is your dream for the future?

So far, I'm selling my jewelry in four shops but by the end of the year, I want to find one more shop where I can sell my jewelry.My ideal lifestyle would allow me to come and go between New York, Japan and somewhere else with a lot of nature.