Style maestro Hideki Akiyoshi, creative director of Style Asia, recently staged the arts and fashion festival Motorola SUPER-Style Mix. This Japan native is one of the most clued-in and trendiest dudes in town, and probably owns more clothes than your whole family combined. Don’t believe us? Read on.

What is your current state of mind?
I’m still excited over Motorola SUPER-Style Mix, which was just over. It has been my dream for the last 20 years to do something like this.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be Ultraman when I was about three or four. Of course, as I grow older, I dreamt of owning my own beauty salon, and develop it into a popular hair salon chain, like Studio V.

What is your greatest achievement?
Work wise, it has to be SUPER Style-Mix. This showcase is all about how style and the fashion have evolved, and ultimately leading to the current industries that are so integrated in our lives. As for my personal life, I feel that my greatest achievements are having so many great friends around me, and of course, my partner and family.

What inspires you?
Plenty of things inspire me: Museums like The Palais de Tokyo, Pompidou Centre in Paris and Colette in Fourbre St-Honore, and fashion designers like Rei Kawakubo, Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior and Paul Poislet.

What personal traits do you appreciate the most in others?
Creativity, initiative. I admire any person who has attained a state of mind and has no concern for material pursuits. For example, a fisherman, who may not possess expensive labels like Cartier, BMW etc, but who feels completely happy and at peace with his life.

Do you have a cause or do you support one?

Yes, I’m trying to help disadvantaged kids. I do not have children myself, but I love kids who dare to dream and have ambitions. I want to help these children.

Which living person do you admire most and would like to invite for dinner?
Hanae Mori, the great lady of Japanese fashion and Parisian haute couture, and my godmother, who is my mentor and idol.

What are you reading?
Han Nya Shin Gyo, a very popular Buddhism bible.

How do you spend your Sunday mornings?
Either snuggling in my blanket till late morning, or recovering from late night parties. I might also go for a swim or work out in the gym.

What is your idea of hell?
To constantly want more. I really want to stop this craving. If I’m 50, and still wanting, that’ll really be a living hell.

What is your guilty pleasure?
That will have to be my bad habit of splurging money. I simply love to spend, but most of the stuff that I have bought were never worn or used. Even after all these crazy buys, I still feel so empty.

What’s playing in your iPOD/MP3/CD player?
Too Many DJs and Coldcut.

What do you collect?
I buy everything in excess, mostly 10 of the same item every time. So right now, I have about 100 over books on photography, architecture and fashion, more than 300 T-shirts, 50 pairs of sneakers, and more than 200 jackets, shirts and toys combined.

What is your favourite item of clothing?
T-shirts, jeans and jackets.

What accessory sets you apart?
Everything! My combination of belts, shoes, necklaces, watches, rings and handkerchiefs.

What about you that scares others?
I tend to get over enthusiastic about everything and would go all the way to achieve what I feel is good. I’m a bit of a perfectionist.

What did you believe at 18 that you wish you still believed now?
Money is not important. We can’t let materialistic gains rule our heart, but we must be driven by passion.

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