KUMI SAITO PHOTOGRAPHY #1
HAVE I MET YOU BEFORE?
LONDON STREET STYLE FROM FASHION WEEK 2001-2018
Over 200 images of 111 fashion icons taken outside
“HAVE I MET YOU BEFORE? LONDON STREET STYLE FROM FASHION WEEK 2001-2018” is the first book in the archival photo book series KUMI SAITO PHOTOGRAPHY, which will be published on 23 November 2022 by Parsnips Archive. This book consists of over 200 images of fashion icons including editors, buyers, models, bloggers and influencers taken by Kumi Saito between 2001 and 2018, together with comments from the journalists whom she teamed up with at that time.
This book is a historical record for all fashion lovers, especially those interested in the street style scene in London. Not only does it feature an array of trends, but it also celebrates individual style and documents the overall festive mood at London Fashion Week during that period. Kumi Saito is a London-based Japanese photographer who passed away in December 2020 from cancer. Her work focuses on fashion, lifestyle, portraiture and more. She was a well-known photographer who contributed to many Japanese magazines, fashion brands, department stores, and a wide range of media. "Have I met you before?" is an expression that was frequently exchanged between Kumi and the chic show-goers at London Fashion Week. When capturing the styles of fashion insiders moving quickly from venue to venue, she was o en recognised and asked "Have I met you before?" Or, if Kumi has photographed them before but couldn't remember who they are, she would ask "Have I met you before?" to which they would reply "Ah yes, I remember you!" and the two would start chatting. Kumi dreamed of holding a photo exhibition with this title during her lifetime.
Book Details
Publisher: Parsnips Archive
Language: English
Paperback: Full colour 184 pages, A5 Size (148x210mm)
ISBN: 978-1-7395963-2-3
Condition: As new, 1st edition, Ltd of 1,000
From the introduction
“In the early ‘00s, fashion editors of well-known magazines were at the center of a ention. British journalists, who dressed up in high heels in Paris, would dress effortlessly chic in their hometown.
They were admired for their casual-meets-work wardrobes. In the late ‘00s, fashion buyers came into the limelight, followed by a younger crowd of fashion bloggers, who emerged from the blogging boom. Then, like in other cities, Russian It-girls became highly visible for their feminine styles, and in the late 2010s, Instagrammers and influencers started to rule the street style game.”
・WWD.com / Yahoo(WWD) - Puts London Fashion Week Street Style on Full Display
・SUPR.jp - 2001年から18年間のロンドン・コレクションでの貴重なスナップをアーカイブ。斎藤久美の写真集『HAVE I MET YOU BEFORE?』発売
・ELLE.com/jp - ロンドンスナップ史を振り返る写真集が発売！ 英セレブやファッションアイコンの貴重なショットも
・MADAMFIGARO.jp - ロンドンの写真家によるコレクションスナップ集が登場
・FASHIONSNAP.com - 200枚以上のロンドンコレクション写真を収録した写真集発売
Comments of journalists whom Kumi teamed up - excerpt from this book
“Whenever I spo ed someone stylish outside a show venue, Kumi would run to stop them for me, and then I would run to catch up with her. Kumi had an amazing ability to put people in a good mood”. – Tomoko Kawakami
“For us, street style photography was not just about documenting the style icons. It was more about building connections with the people in the industry”. – Miyuki Sakamoto
“In the post-McQueen era of the mid-to-late 2000s, new catwalk stars and second-generation celebrities started to gain visibility, along with the new wave of next-gen designers. Moving into the spotlight were British It-girls, such as Agyness Deyn, Alexa Chung, Peaches Geldof, Pixie Geldof and Alice Dellal”. – Rumi Totoki
“Compared to other fashion capitals, the overall feel is calm and relaxed. It’s full of inspiration and even conversations with style icons, about their styles and what’s inside their handbag, could lead to new story ideas”. – Kaori Watanabe
“While Kumi took their photos, I wrote down their names, occupation and all the information about what they were wearing. Needless to say, a lot of time and effort was put into the street style pages”. – Sayaka Kishi
“In London, local editors and socialites had their own unique styles. Some of them didn't go to Paris Fashion Week, so we were only able to capture them at LFW. I just loved the way they mixed local designer brands with vintage and high street brands”. – Nao Koyabu
Kumi Saito
Photographer, born in Yamagata Japan, 1962-2020. A er studying photography at Kuwasawa Design School
in Tokyo, and working as an assistant for Minsei Tominaga and Studio Ebis, etc. she moved to London in 1994.
Her work focuses on fashion, lifestyle, portraiture and more. She was a well-known photographer who
contributed to many Japanese magazines, fashion brands, department stores, and a wide range of media.
*No Refund