How I Got Here: Alicia Narusé
After leaving my home town of Taipei, Taiwan, to study aboard in the United States at age 10, I received an American education from middle school all the way to university. Since I was a child, I was talented in sketching and painting. I didn’t know then I would use my art skills to make a career, but somehow, I never stopped practicing art. In my teenage years, I dreamed about becoming a doctor or a musician, but in reality, my art skills earned me a spot at Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York – one of the best art and design schools in the United States. At Pratt, I majored in Industrial Design and learned to design and create drafts and 3D modeling.
In 2012, I married the love of my life, who was born and raised in Kumamoto, Japan. My husband is a musician, a business man, a loving father, and also my business partner. After I gave birth to my daughter, who is now 3 years old, we decided to move to Tokyo and follow in the footsteps of my father, who had been in the furniture business for over 35 years. In 2015, we established our first brand, Paradiddle Lifestyle, named after my husband’s favorite drum rudiment. As the fun name suggests, we want to bring life into furniture business through a fresh, responsible approach to tailored, trendy design. In order to honor my father’s life work, we named our company to Bloomville, Inc. (est. 2015), integrating my father’s company name, Bloominglands Co., Ltd. (est. 1993).
In January 2017 , I discovered FEW and became a member. My goal was to learn from other women and mothers and expand my networking here in Tokyo. Throughout this year, FEW has offered me information I wouldn’t know where to look for and friends who I deeply cherish.