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On the occasion of Mother’s Day, CoccoleBimbi opens the doors to the Milan home of Akiko Ueda: artist and mother of two – soon to be three – children. A sincere and loving portrait captured by Daniele Colucciello – photographer and Akiko’s partner – who has managed to grasp, with spontaneity and delicacy, the truest essence of their family.
Akiko Ueda: between fashion and motherhood
Artist and designer of Japanese origin, Akiko Ueda lives in Milan, where she juggles work, hobbies, and a family life full of sweetness. Her unmistakable style blends the elegance of Eastern aesthetics with the dynamism of contemporary European life.
Throughout her career, she has gained valuable experience at iconic institutions like 10 Corso Como, Jimmy Choo, and later moved to Paris to work at Louis Vuitton. Today she is back in Milan, working at Gucci and strengthening her voice in the creative scene.
Akiko is a mother of two children – Rio and Kai – and is expecting her third, Uma: a new adventure she faces with the same love, strength, and intensity that have always guided her in her personal life as well.
Adding depth to this portrait are the photographs by Daniele Colucciello, photographer and Akiko’s partner: an intimate, familiar, and sincere gaze revealing the beauty of everyday gestures, among hugs, play, and moments of tenderness.
Akiko tells...
An intimate interview to discover how creativity and motherhood intertwine in the everyday life of a designer and mother.
How has your daily life changed since you became a mother?
Akiko: The sense of responsibility has increased because every choice, even small ones, is made with the well-being of the children in mind. The time for myself has decreased, and personal activities – relaxation, skincare, hobbies – are resized or reorganized. Even a simple shower has become a challenge!
Is there something that your children, Rio and Kai, teach you every day?
Akiko: Rio and Kai teach me to live in the present because they don’t care what will happen tomorrow, they just want me to be there, now, watching how they play, jump, laugh, and reach out their arms to me. They teach me true patience. The kind you feel when you explain for the umpteenth time why we wash our hands when we get home, why we don’t eat on the couch, why we don’t throw toys. It becomes an act of love, not of exhaustion. They teach me unconditional love: even when I am tired, distracted, or imperfect, they seek me, they choose me, they love me, and they help me become a better person every day. Because they truly make me reflect on myself and rethink who or how I want to be for them.
How are you living this moment of waiting for your third daughter?
Akiko: This waiting is different. It’s full of love, yes, but also of fatigue. I have two little ones who ask for everything: time, arms, smiles... and I try never to fail them. Then there’s her, this little girl growing inside me, silent and already strong. I’m tired, a deep tiredness, different from previous pregnancies. Because now I can’t stop for even a second: there are my children, work, so many things to do at home... and I try to keep everything together. But, in the middle of this rush, I feel a new emotion. A pink thread that connects me to her, giving me strength even when my body gives in. I know that every hard moment, every sleepless night, every doubt will turn into pure love when I look into her eyes for the first time. She will be my third, but for me, it will still be a first time, and I will be there. Tired, yes, but full of love.
Fashion has always been a part of your life: how do you choose the looks for yourself and your children?
Akiko: Since I became a mother, I have learned to choose practical looks, but always with a personal touch: a color that gives me energy – colors are important to me – a detail that makes me feel like myself even when I’m rushing. For my children, I choose comfortable, soft clothes that let them move and play freely. Sometimes we match without meaning to, other times we do it on purpose: a white t-shirt with denim pants for me and my children. It’s our way of playing with clothing. Fashion now is made up of everyday gestures full of love. I don’t need to be perfect, but I like to feel good in what I wear and convey that feeling to them too.
Is there a piece of your children's wardrobe that you keep with special affection?
Akiko: A vintage set, a shirt and shorts with Hawaiian prints we bought in Tokyo. An explosion of colors, but with that lived-in feel that only clothes with a story can have. Kai wasn’t born yet, and Rio was only six months old. The set was for a three-year-old, but we fell in love with it right away and bought it anyway, eager to see it on him. Now Rio wears it and it looks great on him! That set, once we got home, became our little treasure. It wasn’t just a piece of clothing, but a symbol of a distant journey, our first trip with Rio to Tokyo – my city, where I lived for many, many years and which has a deep meaning for me. Sometimes I take it out of the drawer to laugh, to tell stories, to remember. Maybe one day Kai will wear it too, or maybe not. But it will stay there, carefully folded, holding a piece of Tokyo and love.
The looks of Stella McCartney Kids for Akiko's family
For this special occasion, CoccoleBimbi has selected the looks of Stella McCartney Kids: a brand that embodies the spirit of Akiko's family – mindful, creative, and full of color.
Kai wore a bright green dungaree with a frog print, paired with a white organic cotton t-shirt: a playful outfit perfect for his boundless energy. Rio, on the other hand, wore a shirt and shorts set with an all-over cat print, ironic, lively, and full of personality, just like him. And for little Uma, arriving this summer, a pale pink dress decorated with little ice creams – a sweet preview of the season.
Each selected piece reflects a free childhood, imaginative, and eco-conscious — values shared by Stella McCartney and CoccoleBimbi.