This week's column is an interview with the German fashion designer Melissa Lee, who owns "Mademoiselle Opossum" - Japanese street fashion made in Berlin.
I visited her little flagshipstore - its located in Eulerstraße 2, 13357 Berlin.
As you may already expected, Mademoiselle Opossum is mainly sweeter fashion - Lolita and Fairy Kei inspired.
But next to girly and kawaii things, Melissa also releases nice accessory for Visual Kei, Mori Girl or simply very unique and extravargant things, but also she assists Cosplay sewing and works together with people with special wishes for their costumes.
This is Melissa herself - you can probably imagine now, how creativity and inspiration pervade her complete label.
I interviewed her a little, to discover the scenes behind.
VKH: How did everything start? Your idea with your fashion label, your interest in Japanese street fashion, your yet very young career?
Mademoiselle Opossum: I started early to be a fan of Manga and Anime, and if you're into that, Japanese popculture isn't far. Fashion was one of my intrests as well, so I made my A levels specialized on fashion and design and became a trainee for design after it.
VKH: How long did your training take?
Mademoiselle Opossum: Two years. But next to designing fashion, I'm working as a moderator for a Youtube Channel.
VKH: So, how is it like, to have an own shop, with your own label? It isn't quite easy, is it?
Mademoiselle Opossum: Well, don't expect to get rich throughout that. My mother and me are in the atelier almost everyday. We also have some internships who sew with us. But sometimes it isn't that easy. Here in Wedding (district in nothern Berlin) you can still afford the rent though.
However, altogether you need a lot of passion and love for you're doing.
VKH: I see. So, do you plan to expand your label? Like, opening shops in other cities?
Mademoiselle Opossum: Currently not. But even if there are no more shops located, we sell a lot of things online, also overseas.
VKH: Oh, so you ship overseas, thats great to know for our non-German readers I suppose. Where did you ship already?
Mademoiselle Opossum: Canada, the US, Australia, France, even to Japan.
VKH: Truly great! What inspires you, next to the fashion from Harajuku?
Mademoiselle Opossum: Berlin's flashy partys and and its flair in the streets. Many people from various countrys, who have so many creative ideas! The internet, like tumblr and facebook surely contribute their own part.
VKH: Berlin is flashy indeed (laugh). So, what tips would you give newcomers, who want to have a fashionlabel themselves in future?
Mademoiselle Opossum: The most important things are, that you have unique ideas. Its not working, if you just create things that are already common. You must have new concepts.
Furthermore, being passionate is a thing you will need. Without passion, you will go bankrupt easily. Love your work from the bottom of your heart and work hard - someday, it will pay off. Maybe little by little. But the success will come to you, if you keep going.
VKH: Thank you! So, my next question would be, do you think, that your fashion, or the fashion from Harajuku is a relative of Haute Couture? Extravargant, not for the everydaylife, expensive and from costly fabrics?
Mademoiselle Opossum: My own outfits are mostly from 100% cotton fabrics, and its done with sewing machines. In Haute Couture Fashion, everything is sewn by hand, thats why I'd rather say no - but sure, the style itself is special, and from my label, all things are a unique pieces. So, I'd call it something like "High Street Fashion".
VKH: Agreed, High street fashion would be a good title. So, my last question for our readers is: What makes an outfit for you "good" ? What makes it a quality one? Maybe you have an example in Lolita Fashion?
Mademoiselle Opossum: I don't like the strict "rules" of Lolita. People in Germany are so cramped by that. How can new things develope when everybody sticks to the rules? In Harajuku nobody really cares about that.
A good outfit is made by the person who's wearing it. You can look so faboulus in a plastic bag, if you're wearing it with the right attitute and with the right combinations, the right style. The only thing I always say is - "more is more!"
VKH: Thank you very much!
Check out Melissas Facebook and her webshop -
and have fun discovering Japanese Street Fashion made in Berlin.
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