Medicom Toy presents a new BE@RBRICK from ANNA SUI, celebrating the brand's 40th anniversary. This April, Anna Sui Japan was established, seamlessly inheriting the Anna Sui business from Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings. Anna Sui captivated fashionistas worldwide with her Fall/Winter 2020 collection, themed "GOTHIC VAMP," which infused the essence of gothic culture into a glamorous nocturnal world. To commemorate the release of the new BE@RBRICK, we look back at the brand's journey and present a recent email interview with Anna Sui.

Anna Sui is known as one of New York's most successful fashion designers, creating contemporary clothing inspired by extensive research into vintage styles and more.

Born to Chinese-American parents in Detroit, she enrolled in Parsons School of Design in New York, one of the world's top three fashion schools, before finishing her senior year of high school. After two years at Parsons, she worked as a stylist and in design for several sportswear companies before establishing her own eponymous brand in 1980. Her first collection was held the following year.

Her first runway show in 1991, featuring friends and supermodels Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista, left a significant mark on fashion history. In 1998, she pioneered designer cosmetics with the launch of "Anna Sui Cosmetics." Her unique world, characterized by black and purple hues and motifs of roses and butterflies, has garnered long-standing support. Today, she operates over 50 boutiques in 8 countries, with collections sold in over 300 stores across more than 30 countries.

The theme for Spring/Summer 2021 is "Heartland." After the pandemic, Anna Sui realized that her brand's essence lies in creating new things from the old. She states that by incorporating more sustainable materials into her collections, she was able to create "what we need now." In the collection's press release, she shared:

"Although I was never a homebody as a child, I spent a lot of time at home these past few months. It made me think about what home means to me. A place of comfort, security, the aroma of delicious, carefully prepared food and desserts, and a space to contemplate loved ones and what's happening in the world."
"I was drawn to the watercolors of nature painted by Charles Burchfield during his bouts of depression, and to Berthe Morisot, a French Impressionist painter. I thought about comfortable dresses with eyelet lace and trim, old T-shirts updated with tie-dye, beautiful handmade items like rickrack aprons and quilts seen in the 1966 Czechoslovakian film Daisies, and embroidered towels from the 1930s."

Anna Sui's collections have always reflected the cultures she has experienced, evolving with the times. It is precisely this philosophy, meticulously applied to every detail, that allows her creations to maintain their evergreen brilliance.

— Let's start with your recent activities. The spread of COVID-19 this year led to daily reports in Japan about the severe situation in New York. Are you doing well, Anna Sui?

Anna SuiIt was a very difficult time for everyone. The lockdown was particularly strict, and I was isolated from family and friends during that period. Amidst this, Anna Sui Japan was established in April of this year. Fortunately, we have undertaken many interesting collaborations and formed new business relationships. I have always enjoyed my work in Japan and wish to continue growing it.

— The touring exhibition "THE WORLD OF ANNA SUI," which began in London in 2017, must have been a valuable opportunity to reflect on your work. It was also held in Tokyo from July 14th to August 26th. Could you share some memorable aspects of your collaboration with Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings?

Anna Sui"THE WORLD OF ANNA SUI" was a very enjoyable exhibition. It toured Tokyo, NY, and Shanghai, and will be held at NSU in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from February 25, 2021, to September 19. I had a wonderful time with Isetan. I gained a great deal of experience in the Japanese market and increased the brand's visibility. I continue to work with many of the excellent business partners I met there.

— This year marked the 40th anniversary of the brand's founding and the 25th anniversary of its launch in Japan. Next year will be the 30th anniversary of your first runway show in New York. What principles have you maintained while remaining at the forefront of creativity for so long?

Anna SuiIt took me 10 years to gain the confidence and funding for my first fashion show in 1991 after starting my business. I not only learned about business but also developed self-discipline, and I have maintained good habits. I often work on weekends, and I enjoy being busy.

— You have designed eight different BE@RBRICKs in collaboration with Medicom Toy.

Anna SuiI've loved collaborating with BE@RBRICK since my first design in 2008. It's a joy to create these cute BE@RBRICKs, and each one is cuter than ever.

BE@RBRICK ANNA SUI
The commemorative first model of BE@RBRICK ANNA SUI, released in June 2008 to much acclaim. Limited quantity sale at Isetan Shinjuku Store.
BE@RBRICK TM & ©️ 2001-2020 MEDICOM TOY CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

— What are your thoughts on the BE@RBRICK's shape, its significance, and designing for it?

Anna SuiI think BE@RBRICK is a very lovable figure. And it's wonderful that it can express individuality through various designs.

— Tell us about the "BE@RBRICK ANNA SUI RED & BEIGE 400% / 1000%" being released this time.

Anna SuiThe BE@RBRICKs I designed are based on Anna Sui's fashion style, which has given the BE@RBRICKs various characteristics.

BE@RBRICK ANNA SUI RED & BEIGE 400% / 1000%
This design, from Anna Sui's Spring/Summer 2013 collection, fuses rock fashion with the classical essence of Madeleine Castaing, a French interior designer active in the first half of the 20th century. It features a rider's jacket and a tie with a guitar pattern, along with cat-ear hats worn by models on the runway of the same collection. Details like button-shaped eyes and a fan-shaped mouth displaying the brand name showcase Anna Sui's signature style. A 100% size BE@RBRICK of this design was released in May 2013 at Isetan Shinjuku and sold out instantly.

Size | Approx. 280mm (400%) / 700mm (1000%) in height each
Price | ¥10,800 (excl. tax) [400%] / ¥68,000 (excl. tax) [1000%]
Release Date | Scheduled for release and shipping in December 2020
Retailers | Medicom Toy direct stores, Medicom Toy online stores,
and other select stores
BE@RBRICK TM & ©️ 2001-2020 MEDICOM TOY CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

ANNA SUI × M / mika ninagawa BE@RBRICK 100% & 400% / 1000%
Introducing the first collaboration model from Anna Sui and M / mika ninagawa. This collection features a dreamy harmony between the "BE@RBRICK ANNA SUI 100%," released in limited quantities at the 15th-anniversary special event "Anna Sui Home" held at Isetan Shinjuku in April 2011, and "BE@RBRICK M / mika ninagawa Anemone," which beautifully expresses the works of photographer and film director Mika Ninagawa through water printing.

Size | Approx. 70mm (100%) / 280mm (400%) / 700mm (1000%) in height each
Price | ¥20,000 (excl. tax) [100% & 400%] / ¥88,000 (excl. tax) [1000%]
Release Date | Scheduled for release in December 2020
Retailers | MEDICOM TOY PLUS
BE@RBRICK TM & ©️ 2001-2020 MEDICOM TOY CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

— What would you like to do with Medicom Toy in the future?

Anna SuiI love toys. Everywhere I look in my home, it's filled with toys, dolls, and stuffed animals! Of course, I would love to make more toys with Medicom Toy!

— Finally, please tell us about the brand's future initiatives and your own thoughts for the future.

Anna SuiI don't know what the world will be like after COVID-19, but as you can see, the pace of life has slowed down compared to before, giving us more opportunities to feel gratitude towards society, family, and friends, and to enjoy life at a more leisurely pace. One thing is certain: the world will surely change for the better. I am very much looking forward to the future!