Perfect Imperfection

Tell us your name and a fun fact about yourself.
My name is Izzat, and one fun fact about myself is that I really like collecting home decor. I’m particularly into vintage Japanese items. When I travel to Japan, I try to look for oddly shaped items at flea markets.

What drew you to Japanese designs in the first place?
My previous internship was at a home decor company, which likely played a really huge role in my love for such items. What I like about Japanese designs are the concepts and meanings behind them. Most Japanese items I see follow philosophies such as wabi-sabi or kintsugi—that is, appreciating the beauty in imperfection. They remind you that even objects that are damaged or incomplete are still perfect in their own sense, and have their own characters.

What’s your favourite piece in your collection?
Oh, my favourite piece is actually not Japanese—it’s a vase from West Germany, from a brand called Dumler & Breiden. They specialise in various textural ceramics, which I feel are very unique. They also come in different paint designs too, adding to their uniqueness.

You mentioned that you’re also interested in fashion. Is there a particular fashion house or designer you’re currently excited about?
My favourite brand right now would be Professor.E, a Taiwanese brand. They do really cool archaeological prints that are inspired by a traveller. All the prints are acquired from different religions and experiences, so it’s really interesting. Other than that, I also like Yohji Yamamoto, which might look like a basic, all-black brand, but it really focuses on silhouettes and details.

Do you have a set of rules you follow when you choose your outfits?
Without a starting point, it’s very hard to come up with an entire outfit. You have to start somewhere—for me, it’s shoes. I feel I have a calculative system because I rotate my shoes regularly. So no matter what, I’ll focus on the shoes first, then pick matching pants, followed by other pieces, and lastly, accessories.

Beside home decor and fashion, do you have any other interests?
Yeah, I actually really like watching movies. During the COVID-19 lockdown, I watched two movies a day. I’d say my favourite movie of all time is Cure (1997) by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, a Japanese director.

If you could have dinner with any movie director, who would you pick?
Damn! Hmm… Probably David Fincher. His films got me into the whole cinematic universe, starting with Gone Girl. Plus, I think he’s spiritual. But if there were no language barriers, I’d pick a Japanese director—either Kiyoshi Kurosawa or Sion Sowo.