Aya T. Kanai steps into our Confessional this week. She’s the Fashion Director at Nylon Magazine, styling and working with our favorite celebrities, including today’s young Hollywood.
We got a chance to ask her some questions about her start in the fashion world and she gives some great advice on how to get your foot in the door for those just starting out… Be Nice!
Name and Age:
Aya T. Kanai, 29
Marital status:
single
Where are you originally from?
New York City
How long have you lived in New York?
29 years
What neighborhood in NY do you live in?
Lower east side/china town ish
What are your favorite memories of New York since living here?
Riding the public bus when I was 12, wearing my school uniform, backpack and bowler hat. I love memories of the nyc streets in the 80’s… Sooo different from now.
Give us a brief rundown of your past work experience.
I worked at teen vogue for two years. I started as an assistant then moved on to accessories market and stylist assisting. I learned so much there. It was the perfect place to get a foundation of experience in the fashion industry. After that i moved over to nylon and I have been there for almost three years, where I am now the fashion
director.
Do you have a formal education in fashion?
None whatsoever. But my mom works in fashion and my father is a graphic designer. So I guess that’s a better education than fashion “school”. I’ve been around it and learning about it my whole life.
Before you worked in fashion, you were a puppet master. How did you get into this art and what made you decide to eventually change paths?
I wouldn’t call myself a “puppet master”. I studied art and puppetry in college and some years after. But I have always had an interest in fashion. So it didn’t feel like a strange transition. I enjoy work where I can do something visually creative and work in a team.
Did puppeteering give you certain skills that you can apply to your job today?
Yes, in both one needs to have the ability to create an alternate world or reality. Its really fun and exciting to imagine something and make it come to life through photography, clothes, hair and make up.
How’d you get your start in fashion and at NYLON?
Aside from having interest from my family background, I interned a bunch in college. Most importantly I interned for Sally Singer when she was the fashion director of New York magazine. She is such an inspiration; she is simultaneously intelligent in her approach to this industry while also incredibly cool and down to earth. She made me realize that this was a field I could work in. Then a few years after college I went to work at Teen Vogue. Two years later I was recruited over to Nylon!
What kind of challenges do you face being the Fashion Director for one of the hottest magazines for the young, hip woman?
Wow, ummm tough question. I guess I don’t come at it with that in mind. I love the Nylon woman, I can relate to her and I love finding new ways to show the seasons collections to her. For me its exciting to put a Nylon spin on things. I love finding a way to make all the different collections appropriate for the magazine, discovering new designers and special pieces from the designers we already know and love.
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What’s the greatest thing about your job?
Creating shoot concepts and working on set with photographers.
What do you think about the collaborations trend between commercial brands and higher end designers?
I think its great! I mean there are a whole lot of them now so it can sometimes be overwhelming but I think at the core of it, its a way of bringing high quality design to younger people who might not be able to afford those collections otherwise. This is important for the Nylon woman. We like to find ways to inspire people with photography and fashion while also providing them with pieces they can afford.
Fashion has become quite globalized due to the internet. What’s your opinion on this?
Well it just means that fashion editors and stylist have to work twice as hard to provide readers with something new. Women are incredibly savvy now.
Your mother is head of the NY Issey Miyake office, did she have any influence on your desire to go into fashion?
Yes (mentioned above as well). My mom’s title is US Representative, Miyake Design Studio. My mom and grandmother not only love fashion but the history of fashion as well. They are a major influence on me personally and fashion wise!
Are there days when you just don’t know what to wear?
Of course. I work with clothes all the time so I usually try to keep to a more simple program when dressing myself.
What would be your advice for someone who wants to start a career in the fashion industry?
Intern, assist editors or stylists you admire, meet as many people as possible and be ready to work long hours. Also, I think it’s important to remember that things aren’t always what they seem. The fashion industry has a big spotlight on it right now ’cause popular media is interested in glamourizing it. The reality is, I run around NYC on appointments, I drag around trunks of clothes. I love my job but believe me I don’t spend all my time at cocktail parties wearing louboutins. Oh also, try to be kind and respectful to everyone. It’s an industry filled with a lot of attitude. Be different! Be nice!
Who are your personal fashion icons?
Pipi longstocking, she wore whatever she felt like… The original grunge girl… Ripped dresses with torn and mismatched socks, mens shoes, crazy hair. Love that. Having fun expressing yourself through clothes. I love it when fashion is a true reflection of who we are. It’s better than any runway on the planet.
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Got a long term plan?
None. I wish!
Do you have much free time, and what do you do when you’re not working?
I don’t have much free time, but that’s ok for me. I love jogging the bridges, over the manhattan bridge across to the brooklyn bridge then back over the brooklyn bridge. I love dancing too and crafty things like sewing.
Who are your favorite musicians/artists of all time?
Of all time, I don’t know thats too hard…but of contemporary visual artists I love Ilya and Emilia Kabakov’s work. Especially “The Palace of Projects”.
Who are your favorite accessories and clothing designers?
Too tough to answer cause I try not to think in terms of “favorites”. Most collections have something that can be useful. But if I must name some, I feel a particular draw to YSL and Burberry in the high end category. In the contemportary market I love Alexander Wang. I am also feeling the australians/newzealanders right now: Karen Walker, Lover, Ksubi, Insight, Perks and Mini (aka PAM.)
What’s your favorite accessory you own?
Mismatched opal earrings
Where do you like to shop?
I love cheap junk at vintage and consignment stores.
Do you go out much? Got any favorite bars, lounges, clubs?
Not really, I love food but I am also very easy to please. I’m like a garbage can for food. But I do love Balthazar for breakfast. That’s a really boring answer though but for some reason its just such a nice way to start the day.
Name your top 3 fave restaurants in NY and your favorite
dish(es) is there.
I’ll eat almost anywhere so I don’t really have favorites.
What music have you been listening to lately?
I got this amazing loaner car from Audi that I have been driving around. My first real exposure to satelitte radio. I am so obsessed I just scroll around and listen to everything…from 80’s to the news in French.
Whats your most recent discovery/exploration in New York?
There is an amazing park at the southern tip of roosevelt island. You can see the united nations on one side and long island city on the other. Its a totally unusual visual perspective on new york. And you can stand out on the craggy rocks to check it out…
Do you plan on living in NY forever?
Hard question… Kind of goes along with having a long term plan… I don’t know.
If you smoke, tell us your favorite rolling paper. If you drink, tell us your cocktail/drink of choice.
Ketel one and soda… Im a simple girl.
Name one New York woman that you would nominate to our Hail Mary! list.
Asa Larsson. Public Relations Marc Jacobs Int’l
Coolest PR person ever. Plus shes swedish!
serious inspiration, Im in love w/ Nylon and it gave me a nice inside look on the fashion world:]
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I love her meet her at a Veronique Leroy fashion show in Paris. Really cool, and TALLL.
Lotte