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I first “met” Ayano Nakayama of Dorothy Vacance when a JS photographer shot her at the rooms LINK fashion show back in 2010. When I noticed that she was a designer, I checked out her work and immediately fell in love.

Nakayama, better known by her nickname Gon, has a stack of some 200-300 men’s dress shirts at her home and magically transforms these one by one into small fashion masterpieces. This is remaking done in the contemporary manner, making something totally new and unique out of something old and bland.

Soon after checking out her work I contacted her and we slowly became friends. Last year June and August I interviewed Gon about her origins, inspiration and way of thinking. I got a lot of great material that I eventually managed to whittle down to a 15 minute video clip.

Gon’s charming personality truly shines in this clip. This is Gon as I know and love her.

Gon at work

The Dorothy Vacance shop and gallery in Tokyo’s Ota-ku

Gon with Canadian designer Daphne Mohajer

During Halloween, Gon often dresses up like a woman she admires. Here she is dressed as American singer and songwriter Janis Joplin

The Wizard of Oz had a major influence on Gon’s thinking. It even gave birth to part of her brand’s name, Dorothy Vacance

The flyer for the opening of the first Dorothy Vacance shop and gallery on April 16, 2011

Flyers for Dorothy Vacance events