Home Tour of Design Duo in LA
In the hilly area of Pasadena, Los Angeles live Momo Suzuki and Alexander Yamaguchi, the Japanese design duo behind fashion label Black Crane.
Upon entering the beautiful space, photographer Frederik Vercruysse could immediately feel the serenity. Momo welcomes with a cup of Sencha tea, while Alex is occupied with a furniture design book.
Being together for almost a lifetime, Momo and Alex find a perfect balance in combining their passion for architecture, fashion, and design. Black Crane started in 2008 as a luxe t-shirt brand created by Alex but soon after their interests joined forces. With Alexander’s knowledge of silkscreen printing and patterning and Momo’s background in art and architecture, both disciplines find their strengths in their geometric silhouettes and uniquely hand-dyed fabrics. Momo got inspired. She fell the need to create shapes of her own. Black Crane is a reflection of Momo’s personal style. She discovered a personal need of beautiful, lightly draped creations made with unique fabrics.’Creating for every age, being comfortable in what you wear’ is her life motto.
As Japanese-born designers, both Momo and Alex share a deep interest in ancient Japanese culture and civilization. Japanese tradition and values are something they try to incorporate in their daily lives. They believe finding your inner peace is the success of everything that comes along your path. For Momo it finds itself in little things, such as sitting by the window and enjoying the most breathtaking view and seeing the sun disappear into the night. For Alex it’s immersing himself in the search of true, authentic vintage pieces. Being inspired by great creators and places such as Shindler house, Carlo Scarpa, Stan Bitters, Jean Prouve, et al.
An inspired partnership, a serene space and a label that expresses these values beautifully.
Credits:Frederik Vercruysse
Written By: Carolina Pizzutilo
