## Tell us about your background.

I originally worked as a salesperson and visual merchandiser at a boutique clothing shop.

After gaining experience at a flower shop in Tokyo for about two years, in 2017 I started out on my own, opening a pop-up shop on weekends before moving to this current location five years ago.

## It's been 7 years since you opened your shop, has the way you approach work changed compared to when you first started?

It hasn't changed much. Originally, I didn't think about growing the store too much. The vision was always to be a small but powerful shop, with a quality offering and strong community. Although this vision hasn’t changed we now have many customers who come from far away. We are very grateful for this.

## Are there any similarities between fashion and flower arranging?

While working at the boutique clothing shop, I was able to come into contact with many high-quality items, and through that experience, I learned the importance of subtraction. For example, if you have a nice, high-quality skirt, instead of layering something special on top of it, keep everything else simple. I was taught the idea of subtraction, such as thinking that it's okay to wear a plain top and a simple necklace.

Rather than adding flowers, I'm thinking about how to make each flower look nice. Of course, combinations of large flowers and bouquets with lots of flowers are wonderful, but I intentionally create bouquets without thinking about rules, such as using sub-flowers or combinations with non-flowers. The bouquets and works I create are often described as chic, but I don't intend them to be chic, and I think it's the unconscious subtraction that gives them their individuality. I think that's what gives it its "whole" feel.

## When it comes to fashion, are there any differences in the way you dress for work and for everyday life?

I love clothes, so I try not to separate my everyday clothes from my work clothes.
I try to wear the clothes I want to wear even when I'm working. My fashion is also linked to my space.
I think of it as a form of styling, and by standing in it, the space is completed.
I choose my clothes accordingly.

## You wear Lavenham's gilet, what do you like about them?

In terms of functionality, it's lightweight and thin, so it can be worn as an inner gilet, and I like that it's easy to use for a wide range of purposes, from everyday wear to camping. When working, I often pair it with a shirt, and when camping, I often pair it with a cut-and-sew shirt or sweatshirt. I also like that Lavenham looks stylish even when I'm camping.

## How do you usually wear Lavenham in your daily life or at work?

I often group them together with similar colours. Today, I paired my navy set with a navy gilet, but I tried to keep it classy by grouping the colors together. Also, like today, I sometimes pair it with floral patterns. Since becoming a florist, I have naturally become interested in floral patterns, and I especially get happy when I find seasonal flower patterns. I often choose something because I think it will suit the space of the store.

Yoshiko Tsunakawa

Owner of the flower shop "whole". After selling at a select shop and working as a VMD, she gained experience at a flower shop in Tokyo.
Independence. In April 2017, we opened a flower shop called "whole" in a corner of a wine bar in Tomigaya, open only on weekends.
In April 2019, we moved to Yoyogi Uehara and reopened.
She handles a wide range of work including gift orders, weddings, apparel exhibition flower decorations, and styling for photo shoots.