SATOSHI KAWAMOTO - PLANT ARTIST, ENTREPRENEUR + FOUNDER OF NÉ VINTAGE + BOTANICA

Mar 15

Written By Adylia

In this Conversating with Yhorlife we got to conversate with Satoshi Kawamoto! I'm so excited and humbled that Satoshi agreed to this interview. I can honestly say it was my brother that made this happen. I've admired Satoshi's creative eye, authenticity and his outfit postings for at least a year! He’s unapologetically himself. I hope you enjoy this Conversating as much as I do - Enjoy!

HIII Satoshi! Let’s jump right in!

How would you introduce yourself to people who are unaware of you?

I have been working as a plant artist for nearly 30 years. My work focuses on creating spatial designs, installations, and compositions using plants.

I collaborate with many different kinds of spaces and contexts — including runway shows, boutiques, hotels, and private homes.

At the same time, I curate vintage pieces and customize them, presenting them in my own way.

How would you describe your company NÉ VINTAGE + BOTANICA? Why and when did you decide to create it?

NÉ VINTAGE + BOTANICA is, in a way, an extension of my own mind.

It functions as both an atelier and a shop — a place where I create and present my works.

In the past, I ran a lifestyle-oriented concept shop called GREEN FINGERS MARKET in Tokyo, New York, and Milan. Opening NÉ VINTAGE + BOTANICA felt like the next stage of my creative journey.

Both plants and clothing are things that grow and evolve over time. In this space, I bring those two elements together and allow them to coexist.

The word “NÉ” comes from the Japanese word ne, which means “root,” and also “sound.”

Through GREEN FINGERS MARKET, I was able to spread many roots across different places and communities. My hope is that from those roots, many new possibilities — like fresh sprouts — will emerge.

I also hope this space becomes a place where people intersect, where different communities meet and grow organically.

***I love how you customize*** ***New Era caps.*** ***The charms have elements of nature. How do you get inspired? Why plants over other mediums?***

I have always loved vintage clothing.
Because I am also a plant artist, the motifs for the hats I customize are inspired by nature.
The charms are produced in an old factory using traditional molds from the past. They are made of brass, so I hope people enjoy the patina and aging that develops over time.
I also create customized vintage garments using Japanese embroidery techniques.
Through these pieces, I try to express something that only I can do — as a Japanese person and as a plant artist.

What is the process for creating?

Everything is made by hand.

Each piece is created with its own story, which gives the work a warmth and soul that machines cannot reproduce.

In a way, the process is similar to creating plant installations by hand — slowly building something organic, piece by piece.

What are your 3 staples of clothing that make you feel your most confident?

The style I always suggest is mixing vintage pieces into everyday clothing.

By wearing even a single vintage piece shaped by time and natural aging, you can feel the beauty created through the years.

Thinking about the story behind the item — who might have worn it, and how it has lived through time — gives the outfit a deeper meaning and energy.

What can people look forward to with your business? Do you do custom pieces?

My main work — plant-based spatial design and installations — is something I will continue doing for the rest of my life.

At the same time, I will keep creating customized clothing pieces as well.

I want to continue sharing these works with people and keep evolving as an artist, expressing art that surprises people — something they have never seen before.

What are some of the most rewarding parts of your job?

The most rewarding moment for me is when people experience the spaces or customized pieces I created after going through so many processes.

Seeing their reactions makes everything worthwhile.