Features

What attracted you to jewellery making rather than painting or drawing? What is your creative background?

I came to New York from Japan in 1999. And I was looking for what I was gonna do in the future. Then I took a jewelry class at FIT (Fashion institute of Technology NYC) in 2001. That's how I got into jewellery making. Since then I have been making a lot of silver accessories in New York and working with a Japanese clothing brand.

My friend Jeff staple is one of the people who gave me a good insight into street culture in NYC. We started to play basketball together from 2000 and I have worn a lot of Staple Design t-shirts. At the time I was thinking that I could make a silver accessory line for New York street culture. And I started to make pieces for hip-hop DJs. (Hi-Tek, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Biz Markie etc)

I think I like to make 3D models more than 2D (painting, drawing). When I was a teen, I made so many plastic models of Japanese animation robots and World War 2 models. My favorite is "YAMATO" (Japanese Battle ship) and Gundam. Those are my creative background, I think. I learned to make 3D mechanisms from those plastic models.

All your designs are heavily tied to music, and worn by many DJs and music artists, do you have strong ties to the music industry?

When I was learning jewellery making, I made a lot of fine-jewellery such as engagement rings and wedding rings. So I tried to make a lot of unisex designs after I finished jewellery class. Also at the time I wanted to be DJ, because I had been listening hip-hop since I came to NY. Then I realized that I could make some DJ gear as silver accessories for a lot of people. I have never seen an accessory (specifically) for a DJ, producer or musician. So I also thought it would be a big market. I chose the Technics head shell and 45 adapter pendant for the first DJ series. There's also a speaker pendant for people who love to listen music.

What type of materials do you use in your designs?

I use sterling silver, 10k, 14k, 18k, and platinum. Sometimes, I use stainless steel. But those are expensive to produce. So I use silver a lot.

What type of person wears Complete Technique?

I think people who wear streetwear. Also DJs, producers, musicians. Also we started to make skateboard pendants, cameras, guns etc. So I hope people who like those could wear Complete Technique.

You have done many collaborations with streetwear labels such as Rocksmith, 55 DSL and Kid Robot, how do you find working with another brand? Is it enjoyable or do you prefer working on your own designs?

Because Complete Techinque is from New York, that's why we could work with Rocksmith, 55DSL, kidrobot, Staple Design etc. I feel New York is a really small world. We met in New York and built good relaitionships. Also I'm happy to make something different stuff that I can't design. It is easy for me to just make custom pieces that clients want. And it is really good to collaborate with clothing companies. Because Complete Technique has to be in the fashion industry. I think that's the best marketing for our company. Also we have to be in the jewellery, watch, and Electronic markets too. So we are preparing to collaborate with Vestax and Alive Athletic Tokyo in next year.

In your press release, it said you enjoyed making remote control cars and toys as a child, how is jewellery making similar?

I am still thinking how we can relate with toys. Also electricity. Also I always think about the future. We could wear accessories with electric tools such as phones, cameras, internet communications etc. And I hope Complete Technique can create new designs and products with electric companies in the future. This is my dream project, I think.

For more on Osa and his work visit completetechnique.com.