PPM : Your clothing designs are inspired by pastries and edible things of the confectionery type. When did you get the idea for your brand, and when/where did you start it?

Yuka Takeda : First of all, my major course of study in college was biology; however, I found out that I like making things for my friends (especially pastries) and seeing their smiles. Then I thought about becoming pastry chef. I always like how pastries look and when I changed my major to fine arts, I always used pastry images for anything, such as drawings, collage, paintings, etc.

PPM : What made you want to change your major from biology o fine arts? Was there a specific event that made you change your focus?
Yuka Takeda : I like biology and math and science. This fact made me want to be a doctor because if I thought if I become a doctor, everybody would respect me more. But I realized that this is really a sad way to look at things. Just after transferring to a school in Chicago, I decided to study fashion design since I have a passion for fashion. Clothes can make people be happy and be positive, like pastries do. At first, I didn’t realize it, but after few semesters over, I realized that my inspiration is always from pastries, fruits, and flowers. Also the Japanese photographer, Mika Ninagawa http://www.ninamika.com/ gave me lots of influence and since I was little, I have always had an interest in art. I even did oil paintings when I was in high school

But I didn’t see myself as talented artist, and becoming an artist is a whole another world for me… in Japan, being an artist is very difficult, most of people don’t appreciate artists. I’m glad that I was in US when I decided to go down this path.

PPM : But you mentioned that you had wanted to become a pastry chef… when did that idea take hold, and did you ever take steps to move in that direction?

Yuka Takeda: I always saw pastries as a type of artistic medium and since it’s edible, it’s easier to make people smile! I was drawn to the cute pastries I would see in magazines and that made me think I wanted be a pastry chef and go to the pastry school in Paris but I didn’t know any French, so I went to Grenoble for 2 months to learn the language. After learning French, some typical Japanese guy said to me ‘why don’t you go work for a big company after graduation and then when you get married, you, of course will quit your job and raise children, and THEN, you can start a career as a pastry chef. The system of getting a job is really strict in Japan and has many rules so, that person really made me not want to be a pastry chef because he saw it as lower quality job.

PPM : Given the name of your brand refers to a famous French cookie, would you say that there is a strong influence of French « pâtisseries » in your work?
Photo: Robert Glatfelter

Yuka Takeda : Yes, of course. French pastries are very popular in Japan and all cakes look cute or beautiful, like works of art. People are happy by looking at them, and I would like to make clothing that immediately makes people happy in that way, so there is definitely a strong influence of French pastries which I find very beautiful.

PPM : How much time have you spent in Paris, and in France?

Yuka Takeda : I lived with a host family in Grenoble for 2 months 2005, and I lived in Paris for 5 months in 2008.

PPM : What are your favorite French pastries? And what are your favorite places to find them?

Yuka Takeda : I like the design of any French pastry, but maybe as you can guess, my most favorite is the macaron! (smiles) Amazingly, Tokyo has lots of cute and unique macarons; however, I like “Pierre Hermé” in Paris the most, especially the “Ispahan” macaron which is made with rose petal, litchis and fresh raspberries, the macaron from heaven!

PPM : What are Pastel Macaron’s most recent accomplish- ments?

Yuka Takeda : The Ella Flagg Young Association Spring Fashion Show on April 10 at the Hilton in Oaklawn, IL. It was sponsored by the association to raise funds for scholarships. And I made a new collection for this show, and from that I feel my design is become more stable and defined. I mean I haven’t found my complete and defined style yet, but through this new collection, I felt I’m closer to that point. I showed my works along with other up and coming fashion designers like “Double Stitch”, a label that focuses on many crocheted items created by two sisters.

I also recently had a photo shoot in Japan with photographer, who is a SCAD film student Aaron Jenkin http://www.aaronjenkin.com/glamour who is very interested in Japanese culture and art.

PPM : Where do you hope to bring the brand within the next year?

Yuka Takeda : I was avoiding showing my works to Japanese people because I assumed, for Japanese, my designs would not be seen as unique or original; however, with the experience of the fashion exhibition in Chicago and the photo shoot in Japan, I feel much more prepared to show my work to the Japanese people. I also hope to remain in the US for the next year so I can promote my brand here, especially in the Chicago area.

PPM : How can people currently acquire Pastel Macaron items?

Yuka Takeda : That’s a good question! Currently, people who are interested in my works contact me directly and order.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=17268964868

http://twitter.com/pastel_macaron

Photos : first 4 : Robert Glatfelter; last 2 : Aaron Jenkin

Photos : Robert Glatfelter