Lecture 1: The Concept of Creativity

The first meeting of the 16 semifinalists was held at the program briefing, and they took Lecture 1.

On the same day, as in Lecture 1, they learnt about “Creativity”, which is one of the two main pillars of the FFP concept.

Lecturer / Theme

Lecturer: Mr. Yuima Nakazato (Fashion Designer)

Theme: The Concept of Creativity

Lecture Outiline

FFP is not simply a fashion award, but was conceived as a place to explore the broader concept of garments, and has been held for five years to date. The evaluation is not based on the level of completion of works at the time of submission, but on their potential to illuminate the future, grounded in two pillars: “creativity” and “social responsibility.” While traditional awards have placed emphasis on beauty and innovation, this program conveys a strong belief that, for today’s creators, ignoring social responsibility is no longer permissible.

In this lecture, Mr. Nakazato also shared his own experiences and creative methodology. Encounters such as visiting sites of discarded clothing in Kenya, or being stranded in the Egyptian desert during a film shoot, became “heart-leaps” that sparked inspiration. These emotional moments were then transformed into intellectual curiosity, and through words, photographs, and drawings, were embodied in the form of garments.

In terms of material selection, the pursuit of beauty was explored in tandem with the question of how to embody social responsibility. Unique challenges were introduced, such as attempts to transform waste into materials in collaboration with companies possessing diverse technologies, and experiments to make use of new, sustainability-oriented materials that are difficult to handle in their early stages of development.

Furthermore, the importance of adopting a journalistic perspective that connects fashion to society and the times was emphasized. As social changes and emotional shifts alter the standards of beauty, creators are called upon to observe reality and respond through their own methods. At stake is how to balance uniqueness with sustainability, and how to design the scale and points of connection with society.

The lecture concluded with the reminder that fashion is a form of nonverbal communication, always created for the future. Since the future holds no definitive answers, it is precisely this uncertainty that grants us the freedom to imagine. FFP is a platform to expand that potential, and this lecture served as a call for each creator to take on the challenge of connecting their own story to the future.