We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shun Okamoto aka Shunjiroka. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shun below.

Hi Shun, thanks for joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

When I started my clothing line I knew practically next to nothing. All I knew is that I wanted to make clothes that represent who I am. Honestly everything I’ve learned to do is thanks to YouTube the platform taught me how to screen print, sew, and I’m currently in the process of learning how to properly dye materials. I feel like learning each different practice for a period of about 3-6 months has helped me not only learn about the certain practice but also be almost proficient at it. Enough so I can leave it for months at a time and come back to it like it’s second nature. The most essential skill I’ve learned has to be sewing. I use my sewing machine every day for hours on end. I’ve made some of my best pieces on my sewing machine. When it comes down to it I’m gonna learn how to do something one way or another people love to gatekeep methods but I’m always gonna find out how to learn a skill if I care about it enough.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a Japanese American clothing designer based out in Michigan. The fashion scene in Detroit specifically is so small and being one of only few Asians in that area gives me my own style of uniqueness that not a lot of others have seen. When I first got into the Detroit creative scene I got noticed almost immediately. Lots of people saw my patchwork designs and saw that I was authentic with my craft. I specialize in upcycling jeans, hoodies, shirts, etc. I repair whatever is damaged and then do my little details on them afterwards to give them more personality. I want my followers and clients to know that each piece I make isn’t something that’s cheaply made I put in between 4-12 hours on a piece and I do everything to their liking.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Seeing people in public wearing my pieces whether they’re at an event or just shopping at a store.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Designers and majority of influencers are only posting their wins. If they saw the amount of losses they had they’ll understand it’s not an immediate success..      

Contact Info:

• Website:Iruistudios.com
• Instagram: Iruistudios & Shunjiroka
• Youtube: Shunjiroka

Image Credits
Photos 1-7 @shotbymatt__ Photo 8 @andresmakesart