Textiles House Minä Perhonen Mixes Finnish and Japanese Design

TOKYO — The name Minä Perhonen may sound Finnish but the textiles and fashion line is actually the brainchild of Japanese designer Akira Minagawa, who has cleverly paired Scandinavian sensibilities with Japanese traditional textile making. Appearing at WWD’s 20/20 Retail summit in Tokyo, Minagawa explained his journey. The fascination with Finland first began when he was young and he encountered Finnish design in the furniture shop run by his grandparents. His first trip to Helsinki at 19 only further cemented that attraction. After launching the brand in 1995, the company became known for its original hand-sketched prints that are then transformed into dresses, bags and an assortment of products. Now, Minagawa counts 13 Minä Perhonen stores. His products never go on sale; instead, he prefers to take any remaining stock and transfer it to the store’s archives for safekeeping. Butterflies, and other natural elements from birds, plants and trees, often feature in Minagawa’s designs — in fact, the name Minä Perhonen is Finnish for “I Butterfly.” The designer explains that having grown up in Tokyo, his direct interaction with nature was limited and so he wanted to incorporate it into his clothes. “If with the clothes or any patterns I’m able to bring to mind

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