Skullita
Every day is Halloween if you’re Skullita. Taking major inspiration from the spookiest day of the year and mixing it with Lolita fashion is just one of the many ways she is creative. Did you know she designs action figures too?? By working with major toy companies, some of your favourite Marvel and Star Wars characters have been brought to (doll) life thanks to her! She is also an amazing artist and has even made her designs into brooches, necklaces, and tights which she has sold at Design Festa in Tokyo. You can follow her art Instagram Celestial Circus (@celestialcircus) to view all that she does. If you’re looking for inspiration and a serious motivator, look to Skullita! She wants to empower those who feel like they don’t fit in, and she’s here to say that you can do and wear whatever you want, no matter who you are! We at The COMM wholeheartedly support this message, too.
Describe your fashion in 3 words!
Spooky. Quirky. Cute!
What is your connection to Japanese culture? How did you discover it?
I started off listening to a lot of Visual Kei and Japanese Rock ‘n’ Roll since I was into American rock music. Dir En Grey, Malice Mizer, Schwarz Stein, and D’espairsRay were some of my favorite bands and I attended some shows whenever they came overseas. Mana was a big inspiration that pulled me into Lolita fashion. I started to collect issues of the magazine Gothic & Lolita Bible, and the street snaps there inspired me to experiment with fashion.
If you only had one day to spend in Tokyo, where would you go and what would you do?
I would go to Koenji to do some thrift shopping! I really love pancakes so I would also stop by Flipper’s for soufflé pancakes.
Where do you find inspiration?
Street snaps, gothic and baroque paintings. I also look at vintage Halloween clothing prints and dresses.
I also like to read a lot of graphic novels like Godchild, Nana, Neil Gaiman’s Sandman, and Monstress. The fashion plays a big part in the visual style of the characters, which I enjoy.
What do you do when you need to get yourself out of a creative rut?
I usually disconnect from social media for awhile. I’ll start to visit museums or small galleries or read graphic novels.
What’s the last piece of culture that you’ve loved and why?
Good Will Hunting, I have to deal with mental illness and so watching someone who is struggling with the same issues learn how to find friendship and support in others was really important for me to see.
On a less serious note, I’ve come to love Dave Lynch and his various works! Very surreal and dark, as well as quirky.
What are your future goals and dreams?
I really want to create my own graphic novel and characters. I love reading and telling stories so I want to become a really good visual artist. I know I have a different perspective to offer when I tell stories so I’m excited to start that process!
I also want to keep inspiring other people to take risks with their fashion. Fashion was one of the first ways I learned to express myself and it’s helped my self-confidence a lot!
Any last words?
Take risks and have fun! Not just with fashion, but in life. Figure out the things that are holding you back and dismantle them for yourself. Being cute or alternative is a rebellious act for a black girl like me. I want to inspire other people who don’t fit neatly into society’s idea of who should be wearing what fashion to take part in it.
@badgalkaiser
