Interview With KOMACHI2266531DarkLolita Designer DaDa

Recently A-To-J Connections was lucky enough to interview DaDa, ex-vocalist for VELVET EDEN and current designer for plus-size Lolita brand KOMACHI2266351DarkLolita after the brand's debut at Anime Expo 2016 in Los Angeles, CA! The interview covers his thoughts on the brand itself, the transition from musician to fashion designer, and the future. Be sure to check it out!

DaDa is best known as the vocalist of the Darkwave/Visual Kei band VELVET EDEN from 1998-2002 and again from 2010-2016. DaDa is also the designer of the debut line of KOMACHI2266351DarkLolita which is a brand that focuses on bringing Lolita fashion to plus-size people. The debut line features Lolita-inspired tights with a heavy Gothic aesthetic. The brand debuted in the summer of 2016 and looks forward to expanding its line in the future.

A-To-J: Thank you for the interview, can you please introduce yourself?
A-To-J: インタビューの機会をいただき、ありがとうございます。自己紹介をお願い致します。
DaDa: KOMACHI2266531Dark LolitaのデザイナーのDaDaです。よろしくお願いします。
DaDa: Nice to meet you. I’m DaDA the designer for KOMACHI2266531Dark Lolita.

A-To-J: Can you tell us about your transition from visual kei artist to fashion designer?
A-To-J: ヴィジュアル系アーティストからファッションデザイナーに転身されたのはどうしてですか。
DaDa: バンド活動は20年以上続けないと、以前から決めていました。ちょうどその時、ファッションデザイナーをやらないかと打診されました。
DaDa: I decided long ago that I wouldn’t continue being in a band for more than 20 years. It just so happens at that time I was asked if I wanted to try being a fashion designer.

A-To-J: Have you encountered any challenges while making this change?
A-To-J: ファッションデザイナーに転身して何か困ったことがありましたか。
DaDa: 何もありません。新鮮な気持ちでデザインに集中できています。
DaDa: None at all. I can focus on designing with a fresh feeling.

A-To-J: You introduced your new brand KOMACHI2266531DarkLolita to the US at Anime Expo, what is the concept behind this brand?
A-To-J: DaDaさんの新ブランドKOMACHI2266531DarkLolitaがアニメエキスポでデビューしました。ブランドのコンセプトを教えてください。
DaDa: これまでの日本のゴシックロリータファッションにダークなロックテイストを盛り込み、さらに進化させたファッションを展開していきます。.
DaDa: We’re incorporating a dark rock taste into the conventional Gothic Lolita fashion in Japan and will furthermore develop it into an evolving fashion.

A-To-J: The brand has an interesting name, is there any particular meaning behind it?
A-To-J: 面白いブランド名ですね。何か特別な意味がありますか。
DaDa: KOMACHIは日本語で「美人」の意味です。2266531という数字に意味はありません。
DarkLolitaは今までのロリータファッションとは違うものを作っていきたいという考えです。
DaDa: In Japanese KOMACHI means “Beautiful woman”. The numbers 2266531 has no meaning. DarkLolita symbolizes what we hope to make, something different from all the lolita we’ve seen to date.

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