Today we were lucky enough to interview Sawako Furuno, who is mixing up the cycling scene with her stylish and feminine helmets! The Japanese-born cyclist and architect grew tired of the standard sporty lad helmet, and set about changing that by founding and designing her own line of cycling fashion ware. Whilst her helmets are not only chic, they are also safe, complying with American and European safety standards.

I know that you are a cyclist yourself, but what made you take the step from cycling enthusiast to actually designing helmets?

I was cycling to work often and I really hated the boring conventional sporty helmets.  As an architect, I was always quite style conscious and so were my colleagues, therefore I didn’t want to be seen with an ugly helmet on my head!

But I started hearing some grim stories about the collision accidents involving cyclists around London and I felt stuck! I wanted to cycle in style but wanted to feel safe at the same time.  That’s how I started, in my living room.

Current helmets available at Bouf.com, visit Sawako’s page for more details.

How has your background in architecture inspired or directed the aesthetic of your helmets?

Good architecture is often a marriage between function and beauty.  It’s not a mere sculpture and has to work as a building, but it could not be just a boring machine as the aesthetics affects the users’ emotions and happiness.  I like the thought that our products are micro architecture!  I love products which are both functional and fashionable.

Where do you get your inspiration from? What has inspired you lately?

I get inspiration from everywhere…I think my basic aesthetic inspiration comes from my Japanese background and my architectural experience, but lately I have taken a lot of inspiration from the fashion world.  I loved the London Fashion Week catwalks for instance.  I also get inspiration from luxury accessory brands such as Jimmy Choo or Anya Hyndmarch.

Samples of upcoming Sawako Furuno helmets! More available in August.

Do you find attitudes towards helmet wearing very different from Tokyo to London?

I think each city has a different approach to cycling and cycling helmets.  In Tokyo, people still ride on the pavement (even though it’s illegal!) and therefore not so many people wear helmets yet.  But they have started enforcing the rules on cyclists and perhaps now the situation will change.

Can you tell us anything about your upcoming collection? Is it a similar style to your previous collection? If not, how has your style changed or evolved?

We are currently producing additional stock of the ever-popular ‘leopard’ helmets.

*Leopard Print Helmet available late Aug/Sep 2011*

In parallel to that, we are making a few additional very lush helmets, which will come out at the end of summer hopefully!  I guess the new designs are inspired by the leopard helmets, as they are also luxury, sexy and classy.  Also, we are currently producing high visibility florescent jackets which will hopefully replace the dull ‘builder’s vest’ that everyone is wearing at the moment.

It’s important to be seen on the road but we don’t have to look ugly!  So watch the space.

What other areas of product design could you see yourself getting into? Will we ever see Sawako designed bicycles?

Good question! Who knows, I love creating anything that would make people’s life more fun and happier, so I would not rule out anything.  If I designed bicycles, they would not be very sporty as I don’t cycle very fast…something light and cute…

To see more of Sawako’s helmets visit her page.