What happens when we girls delve into the mind of a curious boy? This one’s brimming with books, art, pictures, taxidermy, masks, fashion, and graphics, all mixed up in a cacophony of creepiness. It’s an attempt to show exactly what it’s like to be inside the mind of a boy, in its glorious chaos, all set to the background of gloriously chaotic Kitakore in Koenji, Tokyo.
Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, Jean Paul Gaultier, Thierry Mugler….Once upon a not-so-long-ago there were runways which staged fantastical collections for nothing more than to show off some bulging creative muscles and not necessarily meant to be sold off the rack. Sadly, there is very little room left in the world for those who still create costumed fantasy. Ones that we can perhaps agree that keep on going are Iris Van Herpen, Guo Pei of China and more or less the Writtenafterwards globes and cotton toga clouds here in Tokyo. Now we can add another to the list; Jorge Salinas of Lima, Peru.
Macchu Picchu. Grazing Alpacas. …Macchu Picchu.
When I told people I just got back from Peru to see their international fashion presentation called “Peru Moda” in Lima, they responded with faces of slight unbelief and curiosity. “Fashion in Peru??”
Since style is in the eye of the beholder and usually found among a myriad of choices given, such reactions can only come from the viewpoint of a privileged country with a long established fashion market. Personally, I went into Peru Moda 2015 with an open mind and came back satisfied with learning about their burgeoning scene…and yes, finding style there as well.
Leonard Wong is the newest name in the ring of punch-you-in-the-face serious fashion. And this boy punches hard. His talent not only lies in effortlessly piecing together intricate patterns of noble fabrics for statement pieces, but he’s also got an eye for building up a family of collaborators making a greater force to be reckoned with. In fact, he’s just released photos from his newest “Experimental” line, in collaboration with shoe-artisan Peter Popps, and next up is AyaBambi. Let’s take a trip outta this world….
Could you imagine a woman who glows like a jellyfish, smells like fresh roses, and emits human pheromones?
“Transflora Amy’s Silk”, Jellyfish DNA silk by Gucci and Sputniko revealed in Tokyo yesterday is the attempt to make that a reality in clothing through biotechnology .
New Japanese dance icons AyaBambi are bringing sexy back …to fashion.
Now not to be rude, but if you haven’t heard of dancing duo AyaBambi by now then perhaps you’ve been hibernating for the past year. They have been on my radar now for awhile (I call them “neo karasu-zoku” which means “tribe of crows” or people who wear all black) and I think it’s time to designate them as truly new fashion icons to Japanese women and beyond.
It was killer cold in New York City during fashion week last month. Moving less, staying inside, was my mantra. In fact, I didn’t even make a shopping day or even shopping afternoon or hour… the idea of stepping out between stores and getting the shock of the cold made my system shut down just thinking about it (I keep telling people, “It stings, like piranhas nibbling at your face”). But there was one place I absolutely wanted to get out to: The “Killer Heel” exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum. It had been extended until Mar 1 and everyone told me it couldn’t be missed. Exiting the subway, there was at least 10 inches of snow on the ground. I considered wearing an homage to the exhibit, but I pounded that pavement in flat Y3 military boots. By the end of my afternoon, I found myself a little more on my tippy toes, feeling the awe and beauty of the heels there.
Painting by Joji Kojima (not in the exhibit, but it should have been.)
These are the young and the beauti-weird. These under-30 designers from around Japan and the world, presented some of the most conceptual art-as-fashion collections at Tokyo Designers Week. TDW is one of the most anticipated and attended design & technology fairs in the world, and it partners with TENT London and Milano Salone every year. The Asia Awards is a newer venture that culls the brightest fashion designers, musicians, artists and product designers from around the world to present to 80 top professionals on the judge panel. I was part of the fashion group for the past year and it was quite intense!
In celebration of the publication of the Tokyo Designers Week edition photo book, here are the best designers who are destined for great things. (the photo book is available at Tsutaya *the photos below are by the designers, with no relation to the book)