From My Studio in Denmark to the World

NiiNu StudioA note on place, textiles, and the journey of a work.*

NiiNu is an ongoing exploration of pattern, fabric, and form, created from my studio in Denmark.

Each piece begins with a thought, a pattern, or a piece of fabric. From there, it develops through cutting, stitching, folding, and shaping. I am interested in what happens when a pattern moves beyond the surface of a fabric and becomes something three-dimensional — a form with its own character, rhythm, and presence.

My roots are in Japan, but NiiNu is shaped by my life and work in Denmark. Rather than recreating traditional Japanese clothing or following a single aesthetic, I explore my own visual language through textiles and sculptural forms. The work continues to evolve, sometimes through careful planning, sometimes through unexpected discoveries along the way.

I work independently, creating each piece in small quantities. This allows me to experiment, change direction, and follow an idea wherever it leads. No two pieces need to tell exactly the same story.

For me, a piece of clothing can be more than something to wear. It can be a way of exploring shape, expressing a feeling, or seeing familiar materials differently. I want my work to exist somewhere between art and clothing, open to interpretation by the person who encounters it.

Although my studio is in Denmark, I don't want the work to belong to just one place. I want these pieces to travel beyond borders and find their own place in the lives of the people who connect with them.

As NiiNu continues to grow, I look forward to sharing more of this ongoing exploration with people around the world — one pattern, one piece of fabric, and one work at a time.

From my studio in Denmark, to wherever the work may travel.

— Kae Niinuma