Tokyo Fashion Week AW15 – The Magic of Jotaro Saito

GOOSEPUMPS. That, and pleasant shivers down my spine, is what I got when I attended the Jotaro Saito runway show today. The audience was full of elegant Kimono-clad ladies, I felt I was definitely in good company.

Jotaro Saito is a modern Kimono designer, just like his father Sansai Saito was (he held his farewell show together with his son last autumn). The art of Kimono dyeing runs in their family. Jotaro Saito aims to present Kimono as “fashion matched with modern space.” In addition to being a Kimono designer, he is also a costume, interior and product designer.

The contrast of the traditional and the modern was evident in the show, in a well-executed way. The combination of lights, music, models – everything, was perfect, at least for me. I loved the music choices they had, like Hybrid and London Grammar. The bass was heavy and pounding, as the models looking like gods and goddesses glided on the runway. The lights created a beautiful, graphic, asymmetric pattern, in shades of gold and petrol. Sadly the photos I took with my camera phone are way too fuzzy and pixelated to share (I need a proper camera!)..

As for the Kimono, I certainly agreed with the colors and patterns. Fresh, delicious jewel colors, with monochrome tones. My eternal favorites. Graphic patterns mixed with beautiful floral patterns and shapes – I love contrasts. My only dislike are the fur shawls and scarfs. I don’t know are they real or not, but in any case, fur is not on my menu. I prefer to stay away even from fake fur, as I feel it is still sending a wrong message.

At the end of the show, the smiling designer came down the runway with his models. So many ladies rushed from the audience to present him with flowers and gifts. You could feel the admiration and respect towards the brand and the designer from everyone in the audience. You could feel the love.

I truly am touched and grateful to be able to see this show. I think it’s wonderful that the genius style, that is Kimono, is going on strong. Think of how many traditional garments do you know, that are still being used in daily life, at least for some? That are still cherished and manufactured, sold even in department stores? Respecting and remembering tradition does not mean it should stay static, unchanged. It can still evolve and stay with the time, without loosing it’s true nature.

Images below except for the last one via tokyo-mbfashionweek.com

Tokyo Fashion Week AW15 – Stretsis & a kawaii take on the 70’s trend

Hi, long time no see!

It has been a bit quiet here, but since today is the start of Tokyo Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week AW15, and I am attending a few shows, I figured this is a good moment to re-activate the blog and, myself. I’ve been very busy, and I also paid a month long visit to Finland back in December, but am now back in Tokyo, ready for spring and ready for new discoveries!

So, today and the TMBFW started with the Stretsis AW15 show at the wonderful Hikarie building in Shibuya. Stretsis (‘sisters’ spelled backwards), is a romantic and feminine ready-to-wear line for women, designed by Pim Sukhauta. She started the brand officially in 2002, after graduating from the Parsons School of Design. The core of the brand is sisterhood, and the strong bond between Pim, her older sister Kly and younger sister Matina. They are all involved with the brand, with Kly taking care of marketing, and Matina designing accessories.

The 70’s vibe is all over the catwalks currently (and I’m loving it!), and so it was also in the Stretsis show. The theme was fairytale like, magical forest, where these ethereal fairies would glide amongst the flowers and mingle with cute animals of the forest. The Stretsis take on the 70’s was the romantic one: flowers, frills, pastels, embroideries, chiffons, billowy dresses. For me personally, the brand is maybe bit too ‘young’, as the color scheme and materials are very girly and ‘kawaii’, but I did love the silhouettes and the details. I’ve had my mind on the 70’s flare pants for a moment now, and Stretsis had some pretty nice proportions for these. There was also another nice blast from the past – the head scarf. A very simple idea, but after a 20 year absence (it remember this being a trend in the 90’s as well), it feels very fresh. I for one will definitely cover my locks with some nice scarfs this summer! Below are some of my favorite looks from the collection.

All images below except for the last one via 

http://tokyo-mbfashionweek.com/

Beauty for a Moment

All images from: http://wasara.us/

I recently went to see a small exhibition in Axis Gallery in Tokyo. While there, I also had a look on the selection at Living Motif lifestyle shop. The shop carries many carefully selected goods for interiors and garden, and among them yet again, familiar Finnish products from Iittala and Artek.

My heart fluttered however when I came across this clever and beautiful product line of plates, mugs and cutlery: WASARA. Beautiful, timeless and practical design. With the kind of form and feel that makes you want to pick them up right away. The catch here is, that this collection of plates, mugs and cutlery is actually disposable, but they surely are hands down the coolest party plates I have ever seen.

Currently there are four different kinds of plates, two different kinds of bowls, four different kinds of drinking cups (a Japanese choko, tumbler, wine cup and coffee cup), and a set of cutlery in their selection. All have an ergonomically (and ahh so beautifully) designed shape – for example the cutlery feature a small carved vent, so they can be attached to the plates.

I didn’t fall in love with the plates and the cutlery only because of the way they look, but also because of how they feel in hand. Their texture reminds you of, say, Japanese washi paper. Warm and somehow rustic, yet refined. I reckon they are so beautiful, it will be actually painful – in a good way – to have to dispose of them after eating!

I was happy to learn that despite being disposable, WASARA products are however as environmentally friendly as disposable plates can be. They are manufactured from quickly renewable bamboo and bagasse, which is a by-product of sugar refining process. Bagasse is also often discarded, so I was happy to read they have discovered it can be used as the perfect base for paper making. The WASARA plates are also fully biodegradable.

I have to say though, that the first thing that surprised me with this brand was actually it’s name: ‘Vasara’ means ‘a hammer’ in Finnish. This is of course not where the name refers to however, but it is actually a clever combination of ‘WA’ ( the concept of harmony in Japanese aesthetics) and ‘SARA’ (plate or dish in Japanese).

WASARA has also teamed up with the popular Finnish Moomin Characters, and embossed them onto a selection of their plates and cups. Fun for the kids, but I have to say I personally prefer the original plates.

The WASARA concept incorporates Japanese traditions, aesthetics and knowledge from Japanese craftsmanship into their products – all facts that make me fall in love with the line even more. I feel like these plates *belong* in this house. We are thinking of hosting a small group of people for after-matsuri drinks and nibbles a couple of weeks later, and as we don’t have enough tableware to host a group of people,  these plates will most likely find their way onto our party table.

Clever little thing

 

I had a meeting yesterday in the cool, somewhat posh area of Daikanyama. I love the area, as there are lots of small but cool cafes, shops and boutiques, without the crazy hustle and bustle of the neighboring Shibuya, for example. There is also some greenery, which makes the area even more enjoyable.

On my way back, I decided to check this small, cute shop called Allegory Bureau. I’m glad I did, as I found a source for many little things that are both useful, but also stylish. The shop sells stationery, small items for home and jewellery. Their ‘sister’ shop is called Allegory Home Tools, where you can find also tableware and home textiles. Both shops are located in Daikanyama.

The clever little things that made my day this time, were small blocks of wood, in different sizes. There’s a small carved slot in each piece, so you can insert postcards, notes etc. in them, and pins behind each piece so it’s easy to to mount the pieces on to wall or a noteboard. I just love them. A simple idea, but makes the room look so much more fun, organised and also stylish. I decided that I *need* to go back and buy a pile of these in different sizes, as I realised they’re perfect for hanging my jewelry as well. Until now, I’ve had them hanging just from regular pins – which really don’t look that lovely.

I’m sure that a crafty person could make these at home easily, but as we don’t have the tools and these weren’t that expensive (prices range only between 108 and 324 yen!), I’ll just stock up from the cute Allegory shop. I was also glad to see they sell a variety of Finnish items: Fiskars scissors, Moomin stationery and Bliw soaps.

ただいま – I’m Home

My new baby on the left. Pyörre dress by Vuokko Eskolin-Nurmesniemi , from 1965, on the right.

 

I have the tendency to make certain pieces of clothing my treasures, my babies. When they join my family, I know they are there to stay, they are at home.

Today a new member arrived. This baby is made by Vuokko, the brand by legendary Finnish designer Vuokko Eskolin-Nurmesniemi.

I’m home too – I’ve been in Tokyo since April again, but haven’t gotten around to writing any posts yet. Somehow this bright bundle of joy inspired me to start again. So many things have happened already, so many things are yet to happen. There’s always something going on in Tokyo.