Fashion designers can be stiff creatures, especially when it comes to divulging their history or feelings in an interview. However, Risa Aizawa is not your run-of-the-mill fashion designer. She is a member of the five-person Akihabara-born idol group Dempagumi.inc, known more for it's hard-core dedication to otaku fandom than for its runway shows. Even so, she debuted her brand Memuse on the runway during the recent Amazon Fashion Week Tokyo, and the show was one of the most buzzed about of the week.

"Hello!" I am greeted with a warm welcome and a large smile.

Riza Aizawa produced designs for Memuse at this season
Riza Aizawa produced designs for Memuse at this season's Amazon Fashion Week Tokyo. | SAMUEL THOMAS