KAMISHIMA CHINAMI
KAMISHIMA CHINAMI is a Japanese womenswear brand founded in 1998 by Hokkaido-born designer Chinami Kamishima. It is known for gentle, grown-up designs and its development of poplar wool fabric.
| Founded | 1998, Sapporo |
|---|---|
| Founder | Chinami Kamishima |
| Tokyo debut | 2002 |
| Lines | Yellow, ZOOTEE, Yoriori, KCY |
| Website | t-three.co.jp |
What is KAMISHIMA CHINAMI?
KAMISHIMA CHINAMI is the womenswear label of designer Chinami Kamishima, born in Tokachi, Hokkaido. A graduate of Esmod Japon, she worked as a designer at Renown from 1989 before launching her own brand.
History
Kamishima set up a studio in Sapporo in 1998 and launched the brand with the backing of Hokkaido apparel maker Tisly. Key milestones include:
- 1999: showed in Paris and Milan
- 2001: grand prize at the Made in Sapporo awards for womenswear in poplar wool, a fabric blending poplar seed fluff into wool
- 2002: debut at the Tokyo collections
- 2004: first directly operated store in Aoyama, Tokyo
Products and positioning
The brand has developed several lines: Kamishima Chinami Yellow (2006), a casual line; a formal line (2009); ZOOTEE (2014), animal-inspired T-shirts; Yoriori (2016), long-lasting everyday staples; and KCY (2025), which combines the main line's gentle maturity with Yellow's pop playfulness. Collections continue to be presented each season.
Why it matters
KAMISHIMA CHINAMI is a rare example of a Japanese designer brand that grew from a regional base in Hokkaido to the Tokyo collections, with material innovation at its origin.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the designer of KAMISHIMA CHINAMI?
The brand is designed by Chinami Kamishima, a Hokkaido-born designer who studied at Esmod Japon and worked at Renown.
When was KAMISHIMA CHINAMI founded?
The brand was launched in 1998 from a studio in Sapporo and debuted at the Tokyo collections in 2002.