Textile Designer /Lecturer at Tama Art University and TokyoZokei University
Hana Mitsui
I reinterpret Japanese textiles through a contemporary lens,
proposing new ways of using them through both works and products.
Biography
Born in 1990 Born in Connecticut, USA.
Graduated from the Department of Textile Design, Faculty of Production Design, Tama Art University.
Completed an MA in Textiles at the Royal College of Art, UK. Her graduation collection was selected by Alexander McQueen and presented as part of the Spring/Summer 2015 Paris Collection, where her textile designs were showcased.
After returning to Japan, she worked for approximately seven years at Issey Miyake Inc., engaging in textile and bag design. She later contributed to Japan-led design projects for The North Face.
In 2024, she began working independently as a freelance textile designer.
In September 2024, she founded HANA LAB (Hana Material Design Laboratory Inc.), a company dedicated to transforming insights gained through material research and experimentation into design-driven products.
She currently serves as a part-time lecturer in the Textile Design Course, Department of Production Design, Tama Art University. Alongside fashion textiles, she also works on architectural artworks and interdisciplinary projects, pursuing a broad range of activities centered on textiles.
Clients / Collaborations (Selected)
Goldwin Inc.
ZOZO NEXT Inc.
Toyotsu Fashion Link Co., Ltd.
doublet Inc.
TSUGI LLC
IKEHIKO Corporation
Shimokawa Orimono
Yugen Co., Ltd.
Rail Road Berlin (Korea)
Bluespot Inc.
Retail Partners
Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten Co., Ltd.
h p concept Inc.
Unagi no Nedoko Co., Ltd.
Career
2025-Presant Visiting Lecturer at Tokyo Zokei University,Textile Design Department (Tokyo,Japan)
2024 Established Hana Material Design Laboratory Inc. (Tokyo and Fukuoka,Japan)
2023-Presant Visiting Lecturer at Tama Art University,Textile Department (Tokyo,Japan)
2022-2023 Apparel designer at The North Face Japan owned by GOLDWIN inc. (Tokyo,Japan)
2015-2021 Textile and Bag designer at ISSEY MIYAKE (Tokyo,Japan)
2014 Internship at NUNO (Tokyo,Japan)
2014 Textile consultant for Alexander McQueen’s 2015SS collection (London,England)
2014 Graduated Royal College of Art, MA Textiles (London,England)
2013 Internship at MMtrend, creating the concept of fashion color trend (Copenhagen,Denmark)
2012 Graduated Tama Art University, BA Textile Design as a department representative (Tokyo,Japan)
1990 Born in New Haven,Connecticut,United States
Awards
- Bronze A’ Design Award 2025 in the category of Textile, Fabric, Textures, Patterns and Cloth Design
Issued by A’ Design Award 2025 Italy - Young Designer Award, Interior Lifestyle Tokyo 2024
Issued by Messe Frankfurt, 2024 Germany and Tokyo - Visionary Process Winner ,SUSTAIN RCA SHOW
Issued by Royal College of Art, 2014 London,U.K - Commendation award-woven fabric in any Fibre or Blend ,The Bradford Textile Society Design Competition
Issued by The Bradford Textile Society, 2013 London,U.K - Scholarship for outstanding students
Issued by Tama Art University, 2011 Tokyo,Japan
Exhibition
- DESIGN with FOCUS — Designer’s Adventure/ November 2025 – January 2026
Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design in Toyama, Japan - EMERGE at FIND Singapore Design Week / September 2025
Marina Bay Sands in Singapore - Refilling, Rekindle/ August 1–10, 2025
TRA collective gallery in Anhui Province, ChinaChina - HANA MITSUI fukuoka textile exhibition / June 2025
Unagi no Nedoko – Old Marubayashi Residence Gallery in Fukuoka,Japan - Ambiente (talents) / February 2025
Messe Frankfurt Talents in Frankfurt,Germany - DESIGNTIDE TOKYO2024 / November 2024
Nihonbashi Mitsui Hall n Tokyo, Japan - Interior Lifestyle Tokyo / June 2024
Tokyo Big sight in Tokyo, Japan
TALENTS category - Milano Salone Satellite / April 2024
in Milan, Italy - Premiere Vision / February 2024
in Paris, France
Exhibited textile collection in collaboration with SHIMOGAWA - SUSTAIN RCA SHOW/ September 2014
Royal College of Art in London, U.K
Lectures and Workshops
- Speaker, Talk Event at “DESIGN with FOCUS” Special Exhibition,
Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design
November 29, 2025 - Speaker, PechaKucha Night “What is new tradition?”
February 2025 - Guest Lecturer, Crafts Program,Tokyo University of the Arts
June 2025 - Speaker, Live Recording Talk Event — “Design no Temae”,
at DESIGNTIDE Tokyo
December 2024 - Lectures on Professional Experience
Guangzhou and Shenzhen, China
(Sponsored by Mutual Threads)
August 2024 - Lecturer,Tokyo Zokei University
June 2024 - Lecturer, Talk on Professional Experience, Tokyo International Fashion University
June 2024 - Workshop Facilitator — “Creating Textiles that Illuminate Healing Light”,
Tokyo Association of Architects Youth Committee
May 2024