1. Measure Twice, Cut Once
Sean Khalifehzadeh
Dr. Wolfe – Anthropology 102
October 26, 2010

2. “I love photography. I like to document my
life through my pictures. It is a way for me to
create a timeline of my life. One day I hope
to reflect on my success and failures and be
proud of the person that I have become.”
Photography for Ami ventures beyond the
normal hobby. It is not only her passion, but
she has turned it into a career. As a fashion
designer, she is able to express herself in
ways that she absolutely enjoys. She takes
her work very seriously and has created for
herself something that she is able to put in
more than just time and effort, but her
entire heart and soul.

3. “I helped create these campaign print
ads. I really enjoyed creating this.
Something like this occurs every
season (every 4 months). It took
about a week to complete. I usually
help in styling a photo shoot that
doesn’t make it to print, rather it’s
used on our website.”
Ami does a great job in
designing and photographing
the clothing in the ads. These
four page prints exemplify her
talent and passion for her work.
They are in vivid detail and the
attention to even the minor
aspects are fully cared for.

4. Snip, Cut, and Sew
“I made this dress about a week ago. I’m
planning on wearing it to a Halloween party.
The scarf is from my grandma in Japan. I
actually purchased the mannequin as a start-
up for future projects and I’ve put it to good
use. It’s essential for me to have this at home.
Live models aren’t cheap. Haha!”
The dress is a great piece of artwork that
Ami has created. It was interesting to see the
attention to detail up-close. There is an aura
that accompanies a piece of work like this,
rather than the mass produced items you see
in any department store. It has a certain
elegance that can only be associated with the
passion that went along in designing it.
Design and photography are clearly her life’s
calling.

5. “I play with dolls every day. I dress up
mannequins every day and it is something I
really enjoy. I love my job and the experience
that I am getting cannot be duplicated
anywhere else. I live through my job and I
appreciate the artistic culture. I feel like I
contribute to the art world in my own way.”
“When I was a kid I always wanted to be a
designer. I dreamt about the day that I could
call myself a designer. In Japan, fashion is a
major aspect of the art world. The designs
can be very extreme and they seem to
exaggerate a lot of American fashion and
appeal.”

6. Weapons of Mass Appeal
“The sewing machine is the medium that I use to create all my designs. Without it, I am
hopeless. It has become my roommate in the sense that I spend so much time with it.
Over the last few years, I feel that my skills have really improved. I am proud of my
work. The shoes are my favorite pair at the moment. Every girl has a favorite pair of
heels!”
With the thread still clinging for dear life on the machine’s needle, this piece has
Ami’s name written all over it. She does all of her own sewing at home. While she lives
in a studio in Los Angeles, she is still able to make room for her work.

7. “I got this robe from my grandmother in
Japan. It isn’t a traditional kimono and is
actually used to lounge in. People don’t
usually wear kimonos anymore. It’s pre-
WW2 attire. It reminds me of my
grandma and that is why I brought it
home. It keeps me in touch with my
culture and family life outside of the
United States.”
Ami doesn’t have any family outside of
her mother or father in the United
States. Her Japanese heritage is near
and dear to her heart and every Sunday
she enjoys a traditional dinner with her
family.

8. “I love to cook! Yakiniku, stir-fry, gyoza, and steamed rice are prepared. This is a
basic home-cooked meal and not something cooked for special occasions. I love rice
and cannot live without it. It is a staple in all of my meals. My mom taught me how to
cook and the rest I learned from living alone. I cook stir-fry meals quite a bit because
they’re easy and taste great. I recently moved into my new apartment and love to use
my new kitchen. This was the first official meal. I feel like I have broken-in the
apartment with this meal.”
Ami prepared this traditional meal for her good friend and myself. The first thing
that I noticed was the placement of the foods. It was very artistic in its own right. Not
only did it taste great, but it looked good, too. There wasn’t anything left of the
Japanese Asahi beer at the end of the night.

9. Young Grasshopper
Although Ami was raised in the United States, she stays true to her Buddhist
teachings. Meditation is an important part of her life, both spiritually and physically.
Her career can be very demanding and this is her way of letting off that stress and
tension.
“I usually try to stay balanced. Drama is not something I want in my life. I like being in
a calm setting and meditation is a healthy way to stay focused. It is a good way to
relax my mind and keep myself on the right path throughout life.”

10. Livestrong
“I like to ride my bike as a source of exercise and transportation to nearby shops.
It helps me get a picture of my surroundings a lot more. I also feel a sense of
comfort when I ride. Bike riding around town just relieves some of the stress that I
deal with on a daily basis.”
Bike riding is a form of meditation for Ami. Not only is she becoming more
familiar with her new apartment in Los Angeles, she is able to channel away any
negative energy.

11. “I bought the mirror from my last job. I
have fallen in love with it and built the
bottom portion of it. I loved it enough
to add to it. I feel like it is a focal point
in my studio. As a designer and
photographer, I feel that it was very
important for me to find a mirror that
fits my personality and I happen to
have a strong attachment to this
particular one.”
The mirror is more than just a
reflection to Ami. It is an extension of
her personality. She adds her own
artistic touch to everything in her
apartment.
All but some parts of the studio give a
nod to her personality and career.
From the home cooking, to the sewing
machine, to the mirror. Ami has
created a sanctuary at home. Away
from the stresses of life, she spends
her moments at home enjoying what
she has created.