Chie (Chelsea) Kaya is a Japanese born in Chiese graduate studet from CSM BA womenswear 2021. The collection ‘IMPERFECT PERFECT’ is a journey finding the beauty in tension within imperfection, showcasing the asymetry in the nature.

Growing up in Japan, I was always inspired by the concept of timeless Japanese beauty. Since I was a kid, my grandmother used to tell me that women preserve beauty naturally and age gracefully. The frustration of admitting that aging is human nature, while also believing in the idea of aged beauty, lead me to explore this unspoken ‘tension’ by using fabric manipulations to express my emotions towards the contemporary obsessions with youthful attraction and status.

After this collection, I realised that I want to make pieces that are timeless, which won’t be replaced by changes in trends. Fashion should have a purpose, and mine is to deliver pieces that are very well-made, refined, and made in high-quality fabric; pieces that you could wear for 10 years, just like how my mother still wears a jacket she purchased when I was born — and it’s still in such good shape! And, as a woman, I think it is crucial to think about my own experience — how clothes make me feel; how the drapes and the cuts of a silhouette, for example, can defend against fear, vulnerability and insecurity. I want the women I am designing for to feel confident.