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/

にっぽり繊維街- Fabric Wonderland

I am actually surprised I haven’t written anything about Nippori Fabric Town, or ‘Nippori Sen-i-gai’ (にっぽり繊維街) before. Especially now, that we live just a walking distance from there. Anytime I’m in need for some kind of sewing supply, I can just have a stroll to the other side of Nippori station to fabric wonderland – just like today, when I was in need of some lining for a skirt I’m revamping.  Nippori Fabric Town is actually a street packed with fabric and haberdashery stores next to each other, at least 85 of them.  The area was established during the Taisho era (1912-1926), and has both retail stores and wholesale stores that sell to retailers. The street is great especially for inexpensive fabrics like printed cottons or fabrics for toiles, but they also have more expensive good quality fabrics, sewing supplies, leathers, patterns etc. available.  If you ever decide to go or have a chance to go, Tokyo Craft Guide has kindly uploaded the fabric town map on their site. The map is also available at the fabric street stores. Most stores close at around 6PM and are closed on sundays.

 Momo is a small, but atmospheric fabric shop. They have a beautiful selection of fabrics with a touch of uniqueness to them.

Tomato is a favorite for many fabric street goers, as it is basically a fabric department store in 5 different buildings, with very inexpensive fabrics -sometimes for 100yen/meter. I like it too, as I can always find stuff I need for toiles in particular, but also some nice silks, silk chiffons, chirimen cottons, Sou Sou prints etc. My personal favorite in the fabric street is however a little shop called Momo, peach.  They have a good selection of various kinds of cottons, silks, linen, hemp etc, often with interesting dyes and beautiful colors. I also like the tranquil and somehow rustic atmosphere in the shop – unlike the crazy hustle and bustle that goes on in Tomato.

And so, did I find the lining I was looking for today?

I sure did, and plenty of other things too. That’s the danger of this street – you may go there thinking you’re only going to get one small thing, but end up going home with bags full of fabrics. I think I was very reasonable though, as I didn’t spend a fortune, and it’s all of nice quality. Got some sewing supplies for ridiculously cheap (100yen/bundle), some discount chiffons for summer tops and my skirt lining. I also bought some unbelievably soft and comfy grey cotton jersey and some dreamy, light, cotton silk from Momo. I’ll do some home dyeing experiments on the cotton silk one of these days.

My catch of the day!

P.S. I also just noticed that HandMade in Japan Fes 2014 is on at Tokyo Big Sight from July 19th to July 20th. Might go!

 

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.