For Boys and Girls and Zombies: An Interview with HYPER CORE Designer Hisacy

Japan is no stranger to wild street fashion looks. From lolita to punk and everything in between, Harajuku especially is a fashion lover’s dream. Bold and bright, Hypercore’s clothing is unique amongst many Japanese street fashion brands. The brainchild of Hisacy, he brings his distinctive rock stylings from the world of album art to the fashion world. Based out of Harajuku, Hisacy came all the way out to Dallas, Texas, for A-kon 2019 [Check out the Fashion Show Gallery HERE], and talked about visual kei, his design process, Billie Ellish, and more!

A-to-J: Hello Hisacy and thank you so much for the interview! Could you please introduce yourself to your fans?
Hisacy: Hi, my name is Hisacy, and I have a store in Harajuku! It’s for my pop rock fashion brand, HYPER CORE!

A-to-J: How are you enjoying Dallas? Do anything fun?
Hisacy: I’m going back and forth between my hotel and the con a lot, but I’ve seen a lot of amazing outfits here. I’m getting lots of inspiration for my designs and I’m very excited about it.

A-to-J: You used to be an illustrator for things like magazines albums, magazines, and so on. What made you decide to take the leap into your own fashion line?
Hisacy: In my 20s, I did a lot of freelance jacket art for music albums and such, but I dreamed of going international. I was doing a lot of art and music, but I wanted to do something that would gain traction worldwide. I was interested in creating “walking art” and having people wear my designs. 

A-to-J: Could you tell us about your inspirations for your brand?
Hisacy: A lot of times I listen to my friends’ albums and Japanese rock music and get ideas from there. At the fashion show, the music played during it was done by my friends. I get so many ideas from their work, and whatever pops in my mind while I listen to their songs, I draw. 
I try to incorporate some of the motifs and symbols associated with the people I meet and work with into my designs. I’m actually a fan of YOSHIKI from X JAPAN, and I got to meet him. So for my illustrations for X JAPAN I put roses in the designs.

A-to-J: Could you discuss the design process? From the initial idea of a dress to the completed item being available to fans, tell us the steps you go through.
Hisacy: Right now, I do my illustrations on my iPad, and then I can save the images and send it right to the factory to be printed. I think this is really quick and easy. I don’t draw an illustration and hang onto it a year later, because the design will be a little bit old. I just draw the illustrations and get them printed as soon as I can. Fast and efficient!

A-to-J: What future plans are there for your brands?
Hisacy: This is my first time coming to Dallas, and I want to visit other places so I can get more ideas about designs to make for international customers and go worldwide.

A-to-J: What is your favorite print or item from your brand?
Hisacy: The skeleton bone print is kind of the heart of HYPER CORE. I do a bone design every season. In the stores I aim to have all bone themed prints one day. This bone print shirt I’m wearing is called LOVESICK, and being lovesick is also a theme of this design. On it I have the definition of lovesick as well. 

"LOVESICK" Shirt

A-to-J: What about your favorite general theme or motif?
Hisacy: Recently I’ve been thinking about going towards Japanese themed motifs. Rock is the big overall theme for my clothing, but I want to start incorporating kanji and Japanese motifs in the designs. 
In recent years, I’ve made the tagline for HYPER CORE “For boys and girls and zombies”. I didn’t want to specify a gender for my clothes, because I want everyone to wear them.

A-to-J: What’s it like to come to overseas events and see people worldwide embrace your fashion line? 
Hisacy: I’m so glad to see people embracing my line. When I was an illustrator, it felt like someone would just put my art on their wall and that was it. However, when I go around seeing people wear my work, it makes me happy. My art doesn’t end just on a wall this way, and people can see my work everywhere, and it’s really cool.

HYPER CORE & Hisacy at the A-Kon 2019 Fashion Show

A-to-J: What was it like to see someone like Billie Eilish wearing your clothing?
Hisacy: So last summer, Billie Eilish came to Japan to perform at a big festival. Before the festival, she came to my store with three or four camera guys. I didn’t know at the time who she was, so I asked the camera guys about her. They told me I had to check her music out, because she was going to get really big. And when her first album came out, I heard about and searched for it online, and then realized it was her who came to my store! Now I’m a big fan of hers. When she bought my clothes, I wondered if she was going to wear them in private. But when I saw that she wore them on stage for a concert, I was so happy and excited I wanted to cry. 

A-to-J: We’ve heard you love visual kei and did work with hide, could you tell us more about that?
Hisacy: About 20 years back I was a big fan of hide. Before we had the chance to work together, he passed away. We still “collaborate” in a way, and every time I do a new design for hide, I work hard to make it perfect. I’m very honored to collaborate with him.

A-to-J: Could you tell us about your favorite visual kei bands?
Hisacy: They’re not my most favorite bands, but I highly recommend my friends’ bands, Death Spiral, and Bull Zeichen 88. The songs I had played during the fashion show are from Death Spiral, and I asked them to make a big long mix for it. I very much encourage you to listen to them.

A-to-J: Do you have any other dream collaborations that you’d like to do?
Hisacy: Billie Eilish. Billie, if you read this, please give me a call!

A-to-J: Outside of design work, do you have any hobbies you’d like to tell us about?
Hisacy: Because I’m in charge of design and running the store in Harajuku, it’s like my hobby is my work. My life is HYPER CORE.

A-to-J: Anything you’re looking forward to doing or seeing in America?
Hisacy: After A-kon, I’m going to Anime Expo in LA. I want to try to visit other places in and around LA while I’m there. I want to go shopping in LA! Even though I’m technically working, shopping and doing illustrations and traveling is enjoyable. 

A-to-J: Lastly, do you have a closing message for your fans?
Hisacy: Next year we have the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Please come to Japan and come to Harajuku! See all the street fashions, like lolita and punk. And come visit HYPER CORE!

For More Information:
Store Website
Facebook
Twitter
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​Interview conducted by Janette G and Emily G

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