Sponsored: Fashion Insider: Meet MASAKO a Gap 1969 Women’s Merchant
Women’s Merchant Masako Konishi began her career at Gap in 2004 as a part of the Retail Management Program where she learned every aspect of production, planning and merchandising. Born in New York, Konishi has lived in Tokyo, Philadelphia, Houston, Boston and San Francisco, which has contributed to her understanding of denim consumers at both a national and global level. Having settled near Venice Beach, Konishi references California’s sunny disposition as an integral influence on the brand’s designs. “What I love about L.A. is that makes its way into what we produce. It’s this laid back attitude. It’s about an effortlessness that we really love and that we strive for.
Turning to her own style, Konishi keeps the nature of the brand simple with her style philosophy. “I am a t-shirt and jeans girl,” states Konishi. “For me it’s about switching up the cut of the jean, the wash of the jean, or the silhouette. You never want to do too much.”
Konishi credits the diversity of her team and the 1969 studio’s downtown L.A. location with keeping her eye on the future. “Be aware of trends, but don’t copy them from head to toe. Sometimes, it’s about deciding to not take part in a trend. Some of the people with the best style that I know wear similar things every single day, but they switch it up a bit. It’s almost like a uniform in the best sense of the word,” reflects Konishi.