Simone Rocha on Rei Kawakubo and Dressing for Comfort

It’s been a year since you opened up your New York store. What’s significant about that to you?

It’s been unbelievable to see so many amazing New York women in the clothes and to have a place that people can come and see my work from all different disciplines, from fashion and art.

As a designer, do you more strongly identify with New York, London, or Ireland?

It’s so hard because it’s all of them. It’s kind of funny because, even though I’m based in London and educated in London, I’m half Irish and half Chinese, so I’ve always been from a very eclectic background, which has made me very comfortable in New York as a designer.

You were at the Comme des Garçons show in October in Paris and Dover Street Market was one of the first shops to pick up your line. What’s it like being in that family?

It’s the only show that I go to. I always absolutely love it. I’m very lucky to be a part of that family, so I get to go to the show in Paris every season. Dover Street Market was the first store internationally to pick up my line, and I’ve been working with them ever since.

What was it like the first time you met Rei Kawakubo?

The very first time was actually when she came to see my collection and before I was stocked in Dover Street Market. It was a little surreal because I was still very young and a huge fan of their whole ethos.

Who else do you look up to in the world of fashion?

I’ve always really admired the historical houses like Balenciaga, but at the same time, the people I really admire are those who built independent businesses like myself or Rick Owens.