Tsumori Chisato Dresses French Children–And a Few Adults–For Petit Bateau

PARIS–Tsumori Chisato’s fantasy world is about to conquer French children’s fashion. In December, she will launch a childrenswear line in collaboration with Petit Bateau (a bourgeois, micro-sized American Apparel).

The line, to be sold in Petit Bateau boutiques, will include pieces for babies, children, and–phew!–adult-sized garments, too.

Fashionista.com met up with her, got a sneaky preview of her Francophile designs, and talked children’s fashion, her love for stripes, and the future of her label.

Fashionista: What will your collaboration with Petit Bateau offer?
Tsumori Chisato: The collaboration is a capsule collection for babies, children and adults. There are 12-15 pieces, from the baby sleepers to the woman marinière, and some accessories too.

How will you adapt your style to the Petit Bateau style?
Petit Bateau gave me carte blanche: I love their clothes so it was very easy for me to design a collection for them. I draw all the time, so I worked on the marinière, which is very Petit Bateau, and some prints too.

Why were you interested in collaborating with them?
Like I said, I love their universe, the quality and their savoir-faire. It’s very interesting for me to work on something that I’ve never done before.

How is it different working on children’s clothes?
It’s totally different, the sizes are different and you have to think and work differently.

And what other projects do you have planned?
2010 is the 20th anniversary of my brand, so we have so many things coming up! First, my next show during the Paris Fashion Week, then an exhibition to celebrate the 20th anniversary the same week. I also have collaborations with Carrière Frère and Globe Trotter. I’ll also be part of the Bon Marché Christmas project with many objects designed based on my prints.

How has your style evolved since the creation of your label? Who is the Tsumori Chisato woman today?
I get inspiration from the people I meet, the countries I visit, the experiences I live. That means my style constantly evolves, but you always recognize my it.