Bonnie Pilgrim
Bonnie's artistic style and fashionable flair of her personal style is what caught my eye whilst scrolling on Instagram one night searching under the hashtag of #Japan and Geo tag 'Bunka Fashion College' the tag of Bonnie's fashion school that she attends in Japan. I was fascinated by her photos and Instagram stories of her living abroad and studying in Japan, little did I know at the time, before I reached out, that Bonnie was Melbourne born and raised. During our conversation on Instagram, I soon found out about her amazing personality and bilingual lifestyle living in Japan and studying fashion merchandising and distribution, sort of like fashion textile merchandising here, but different! Taking a leap of faith and studying abroad and experiencing an interesting, exciting and an overall very fashionable adventure in Japan. Bonnie took the time to be interviewed about the ins and outs of what it is like to study fashion in Japan.
Firstly, what made you want to study fashion design? Have you always been creative? (Does it run in the family? you mentioned your brother is doing it too)
まずは、どうしてファッションを勉強したかったんですか?家族の影響がありますか?
I’m actually in the 流通 department which is merchandising and distribution, but we still have to make clothes as part of the curriculum - which I’m awful at.
My brother also did textiles and merchandising at RMIT and now works at head office for Cotton On Australia, but I would say a lot of my influence does come from him. My parents on the other side are completely different (being a motorbike mechanic and a teacher) so I don’t think much comes from there haha.
実はデザイン科じゃなくて、流通科の学生なので、服作りがあまり上手くないのですが、必須科目なので、作らないといけないです。
兄はRMIT大学で流通科卒で今コットオンというアパレルブランドの企業で働いてるから兄の影響が強いかもしれません。
So, originally you're from Melbourne, what made you want to study fashion design in Japan at Bunka Fashion College, rather than here in Melbourne?
メルボルン出身じゃないですか?どうしてメルボルンの学校より、日本の文化服装学院に行こうと思いましたか?
I am! When I was in High school I did a long term exchange in the Japanese country side, which after coming back and graduating in Australia had me going back 7 times in 2016. I thought it was a waste of money to keep doing so, so I thought it was time to pack up and move to Japan! I love the place, and Melbourne was never actually an option when it came to study (although I did attend Monash for half a year after graduation).
In 2015 Bunka was ranked the 2nd best fashion school in the world so I thought there couldn’t be a better place to learn.
はい、メルボルン出身です!高校の時に日本の田舎に長期留学をして、帰国しても2016年は7回も旅行とかで日本に行ってしまったので、お金もったいないと思うって、大学を休学して、文化に行くことにしました。モナッシュ大学は半年間通ってたんですけど、やはり自分のやりたいこととは違うと気付いて、文化が2015年にファッション学校の世界ランキングで2位だったので、ファッションを学ぶんだったらちゃんとした学校に行きたいと思いました。
Was it hard to move from home to live in Japan to studying your passion? How's your experience been so far?
夢のために海外に引っ越すの難しかっですか? 今までの経験は?
It was difficult making the money (although my parents are helping me out).I worked 2 jobs for the second half of 2016 to save up enough for tuition. Other than that I was already used to the Japanese culture and lifestyle so it wasn’t really difficult adjusting.
However, one thing I did learn is that living ALONE in a foreign country is difficult regardless. And no matter how many friends you may have it can be very lonely without family. Also material fibre class is a killer in Japanese haha.
お金を貯めるのが1番大変でした。学費を出すために2016年の後半はバイトを2つしてました。
高校の時の経験もあったから日本の文化と生活リズムはもうなれてたからそこまで困ったことないんですけど、1人くらいはやはり寂しいです。素材の授業を日本語で受けるのもなかなかですよ。(笑)
It's so cool you're bilingual, how long have you been learning Japanese?
バイリンガルって素晴らしいですね!いつから日本語勉強してるんですか?
Thank you!!
I started in my first year of high school, so when I was 13! We had to choose two out of 3 foreign languages and I was already forced to do Italian in primary school (which I did NOT enjoy to say the least) so there was only French and Japanese left. When we went up into year 8 we had to choose between the languages and I thought for sure I’d choose French but I ended up not liking it and loving Japanese and the rest is history.
ありがとうございます!
中学校1年の時に外国語の授業が義務で3ヶ国語の中で2ヶ国語を選べないといけなかったので、日本語とフランス語にて、日本語がめっちゃ楽しいと思って、好きになりました!
What have you experienced so far studying fashion in Japan?
今まで日本のファッション学校での経験は?
Learning how to make clothes. Something which I could never do, hence why I chose the distribution course. This academic year I’ve made a skirt, pants, shirt and recently a jacket. I hated it at first but now I’ve really come to enjoy it so I kinda wish I chose the textile class instead!
服作りです。以前はできなかったことなので、流通科選んだ理由の1つです。この1年間の中でスカート、ズボン、シャツとジャケットも作れるようになりました。最初は嫌いだったんですけど、テキスタイル科に行けばよかったと思うくらい好きになりました。
Run us down a "typical" student day for you. ( 9-5 sort of thing)
学生してる間の日常生活はどんな感じですか?
I wake up at around 6:30 am, shower and then eat breakfast. After that I get ready for school and catch the train at around 8:20 which gets me to Shinjuku station at around 8:50. From the South exit it’s about a 7 minute walk to school and from then I jump in the elevator and go up to the 17th floor (which is where my classroom is located). From there depending on the day we have 3/4 subjects (1.5 hours each) and a lunch break from 12:30-1:30 on early days we end at 3:00 but on late days it’s 4:45 so it’s a bit of a haul sometimes especially when we have double apparel classes.
On top of that subjects range from fashion business, fashion design, material fibres, fashion co-ordination, market research, fashion history, computer design, colors, special lectures and a class to prepare you for the work place.
6時半頃に起きて、シャワー浴びて、ご飯食べてゆっくり準備をする。8時半頃の電車に乗ると新宿駅に着くのがちょうど8時50分前後になります。それで新宿駅の南口から7分歩いて、エレベーターに乗って、教室がある17階に向かいます。
それから日によって、時間割が異なりますが、基本的に1限は1時間半で3限まである日があれば4限の日もあります。お昼休みは12時から1時半までで終わるのは大体3時頃です。
義務科目はアパレル、ファッションビジネス、マーケットリサーチ、色彩、ファッションコーディネート、ファッションデザイン、パソコン、西洋ファッション史、素材論、特別講義とキャリアです。
What's the coolest thing about living in Japan?
日本に住んでよかったと思うことは?
Getting to see my friends everyday. There’s always something to do in Japan and everything is convenient, it’s always fun hanging out with my friends speaking in a language that I love doing something that your everyday person wouldn’t be able to.
What do you think about the style and fashion trends over there compared to Australia? Do you think different styles have influenced your own personal take on design?
日本のファッショントレンドはオーストラリアのに比べたらどう思いますか?影響されたと思いますか?
I do! My fashion has definitely changed since moving here because people dress for fashion here, as opposed to comfort, (opposite to that of Australia). I can wear clothes which a lot of my Aussie friends would think were eccentric, or too colourful I’m not in to the Harajuku scene or anything but even then they’d tell me wearing things like a yellow coat would be too obnoxious! I’ve also decreased the amount of make up I wear and learnt to be more happier with my appearance.
影響されたと思います。こっちに引っ越してから自分のファッションは本当に変わったと思います。日本人はおしゃれするのが好きですが、オーストラリア人は着やすくて動きやすい服が好きなので、日本にいる時はオーストラリア人が奇抜か派手だと思う服は普通に着ることができます。メークも使わなくていて、すっぴんだけで満足出来るようにはなりましたね。
Merchandising is forever changing, where would your dream job be for working in this area?
マーチャンダイジングは永遠に変化してます。この分野で勤めたいところはどこになりますか?
I’m not quite sure at the moment but I’d like to learn a lot more about clothing around the world through an international position. I’d like to try advising for a company or international relations for a company in different countries.
まだ決まっていませんが、今はもっと服のことが知りたくて、国際的な仕事がしたいです。アドバイザーとか、海外でのやりとりをする人にはなりたいと思っています!
Do you think you'll work in Japan once you've graduated? What do you wish to do? Start your own label maybe?
卒業したら日本で働くつもりですか?夢は?自分のブランドを立ち上げるとかは?
Yes I’d love to work here, as for now I’m working as a assistant for the editor of a pretty massive magazine here so I’d like to do a bit of that a see where it takes me, but maybe someday with my brothers help doing a joint project or something would be cool!
是非ここで就職したいと思います。今は結構有名な雑誌でアシスタントとして働いているので、それを少しずつやりながら、夢に向かって頑張りたいと思います。いつか兄とも何かコラボレーションでもできるといいと思っています。
Will you eventually return to Melbourne?
いつかメルボルンに帰りますか?
Maybe. I used to always say I’d stay here in Japan my whole life but I’d like to be close to my family as well so doing a job that allows me to travel both places would be ideal. Melbourne is a great place!
まだ分かんないです。前はずっと日本で良いと言ってたんですけど、家族のそばに居たいので、オーストラリアでも日本でもできる仕事はしたいと思っています。やはり地元が好きです。
Advice to anyone who wants to study fashion design abroad?
最後に、海外でファッションを学びたい人へのアドバイスは?
If you want to enrol as an international aren’t fluent in the other language I wouldn’t recommend it because not only school but everyday life might be difficult. However, as exchange I’d say go for it because it will definitely become one of if not the best experiences in your life, I could not recommend it more!
留学したいた思っていても行きたい国の言語が話せないと勧められません。学校だけじゃなくて日常生活で困ると思うので大変だと思いますが、人生でせめて一回海外は行った方が良いと思います。将来も凄く影響されると思うので、言葉で表せないくらいおススメです。
Quick Foxy 5
Favourite food? 好きな食べ物は?
Tamagoyaki 卵焼き (Japanese sweet egg roll)
I never leave the home without my..... 必ずないと家を出れないものは?
Phone, wallet, make up bag 携帯、財布、メイク道具
Favourite music? 好きな音楽?
Fall out boy, Green apple, BTS
I'm currently watching.... 最近よく見てるのは?
YouTube, I live off it. But other than that a range of Japanese variety television.
Youtubeはいつも見てますが、他にも日本のコメディ番組がすごく好きです。
Special thanks to Bonnie
xx
You too can follow Bonnie online on her Instagram @Bonnie_pilgrim