tilly's little treasures: One to watch: Jill Aiko Yee

Jill Aiko Yee comes from Milwaukee and grew up wanting to become a contemporary ballet dancer, a far cry from the talented designer she is today. After travelling to Europe to audition for dance companies Jill realised that a life on the stage wasn’t for her. Soon after this she moved out to California to study at the Otis College of Art and Design and since then she hasn’t looked back.

Jill’s label consists of two parts, one which is called Jill Aiko Yee which is all about bold dressing for the modern woman. Consisting of femininity, sensuality, rich colours, confidence and style it captures your eye and will transform your style. The other line is called Itterations which focuses on the quality of fit, mobility and comfort. Each item in an Itterations collection is hand dyed and individual yet available in a variety of fabrics which pays testament to the brands idea of when you find something which works you should stick to it.

I arranged a interview with Jill to see what inspires her and what she has planned for the brand

1. What inspires you as a designer?

My two biggest inspirations are tribal/native cultures, and nature. The color of both these subjects is a never ending source of delight. I'm also inspired by the work ethic and design process of my former boss Rozae Nichols. She has such drive and a deep creative mind. I often go back to what I learned about design while working with her.

2. Who do you want to see in your brand?

I see a working woman who has vitality of spirit as well as energy and vision. It takes women like this to change the workplace, and pave a new path. I love that my friend Suchin Pak has embraced the clothing line because she is just the kind of person whose work I admire and hope to inspire.

3. What’s next for you as a designer?

I hope to have a store in the near future. Right now, I use my little design studio for private shopping appointments. I would love to expand to a full time store/atelier that is a mix of work and store front. I really enjoyed working for the previous company I was at - illia. Designed and made in downtown LA, they also had a beautiful store in Venice, CA for a while. Its so lovely to be able to show the entire line in its own environment.

4. Name your favourite thing about fashion?

My favorite thing about fashion is that it's always changing. Its important to find what our personal style is, and express that through clothes, but then also be able to adapt and change as our lives and needs do. It's fun to experiment and push the boundaries through exploration.

5. Who in the fashion industry inspires you?

I’m so inspired by my fellow fashion designers in LA.... Designers CloudCloudNY, Airi Isoda - wrk-shp, Jaimie Park - OUTLYING, the women at Laurie Hasson Showroom, and my friend Nicole Wolensky who just started WestWard Showroom. Its all about women entrepreneurs and the support we offer each other as we navigate the fashion and business world.

Check out some of Jill’s stunning designs below: