I realised I wanted to make clothing which was as universal as jeans and T-shirts.

My generation in Japan lived in limbo. We dreamed between two worlds.

I suppose there are many, but I cannot imagine ever having a more perfect collaboration than that which Penn-san and I shared. It was based upon mutual trust, respect, and a desire to have our own work pushed to new places. And it always resulted in delight.

I am not really interested in clothing as a conceptual art form.

The joining of the Japanese with the French should make a new movement. I think it should be good for Paris.

Paris is an old and traditional place; it needs new blood.

I make clothing, and I don't care about trendy things.

We have to keep a very tight check on quality.

Indian clothes are usually tight.

One of my assistants found this old German machine. It was originally used to make underwear. Like Chanel, who started with underwear fabric - jerseys - we used the machine that made underwear to make something else.