An Inspired Chat with Ayumi Shibata

Ayumi Shibata shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Ayumi, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Lately, what’s been bringing me joy outside of work is designing and doing DIY renovations on our home in Los Angeles. Little by little, our house is becoming more of what we envision. It’s been so much fun and I’ve been learning a lot about home construction along the way. I t can be tiring, but also fascinating!
My husband and I have also been searching for a new property, as we share a dream of creating a guest house someday. We haven’t found the perfect place yet, but the process of exploring possibilities together has been exciting and inspiring.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Ayumi Shibata, and I’m a Los Angeles–based wardrobe stylist and costume designer. My career originally began in high-end fashion design, development, and production in Tokyo, Paris, and Milan, where I built a strong foundation in craftsmanship and design aesthetics.

After moving to the U.S., I launched my own contemporary clothing lines and later worked as a creative director for several well-known contemporary fashion brands. In 2015, I was honored with two major industry awards . WWD Magic “Crème de la Crème” and FBI “Best Fashion Designer” recognizing my design innovation and contributions to the fashion world.

During the pandemic, I decided to pivot into wardrobe styling and costume design, which opened an exciting new creative chapter for me. Over the years, I’ve collaborated with artists, musicians, celebrities, and filmmakers on a wide range of projects, including editorials, commercials, TV shows, and films.

What I love most about my work is the collaboration, teaming up with other creatives, meeting new people, and learning something new with every project. I truly feel more inspired and passionate about what I do now than ever before.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
I truly believe that the companies I worked for in Japan gave me the most essential foundation for how I work today. Through Japan’s distinctive sense of practicality, the ability to be considerate and anticipate others’ needs, meticulous attention to detail, and a deep respect for craftsmanship and creativity, I gained invaluable experiences that shaped who I am now.

In Tokyo, Paris, and Milan, I had the opportunity to work with three renowned high-end fashion houses　” Gomme, Shinichiro Arakawa, and Yasuhiro Mihara”. 　There, I trained not just in one specialty but across every aspect of the process — from fabric development, design details, and pattern making to sample making, production management, and even Wholesale and retail sales. That experience of wearing many hats and keeping everything running smoothly taught me that my craft wasn’t shaped by one single mentor, but rather by the collective wisdom, collaboration, and dedication of many talented people I worked with.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes — there was a time I almost gave up.
My clothing line took off like a rocket just two years after I launched it in Los Angeles. But behind the success, I was constantly struggling with cash flow and managing finances since I handled everything — from design to production — on my own.

Eventually, I started looking for investors or a business partner to help me grow. I finally found one, but unfortunately, it turned out to be a bad match. It was not a good “business marriage.” In the end, they took my trademark and all the business assets, and I lost everything I had built.

I was too naive and jumped into the opportunity too quickly, without doing enough research. Overnight, my multimillion-dollar business disappeared because of that mistake. At that time, I fell into deep depression, developed social anxiety, and completely lost my sense of self.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My close friends would probably say that what matters most to me is honesty, creative expression, and valuing human connection and compassion for others.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. When do you feel most at peace?
It’s hard to choose just one moment, but I’d say I feel most at peace on our days off—cooking dinner with my husband in the kitchen, drinking a glass of wine, chatting, and making a few delicious dishes together. I love that time, it fills me with peace and happiness.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ayumishibatafashion.com
• Instagram: @ayumishibata_la
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayumishibatadesign/