"Tokyo Fashion World," Tokyo's biggest show for the fashion trade, comes round twice a year, in the Spring and Autumn, with hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of visitors gathering at Tokyo Big Sight in Odaiba. The show this Fall had a lot of interest as usual.
One trend was that a LOT more fashion is now being made in Japan:
One trend was that a LOT more fashion is now being made in Japan:
Concerns about supply chains are a constant nightmare in the increasingly destabilised times we live in.
Maybe as a result of the scary global situation some exhibitors were pushing cosy, comforting fashions.
Chinese manufacturer SUXI FASHION was displaying its cashmere coats, sourced from wool from Mongolia and China's "troubled" Sinkiang Province. Nice pockets, even if it was 25 degrees Celsius outside!
Chinese manufacturer SUXI FASHION was displaying its cashmere coats, sourced from wool from Mongolia and China's "troubled" Sinkiang Province. Nice pockets, even if it was 25 degrees Celsius outside!
There were also lots of rising fashion entrepreneurs looking for attention. Ten years ago Korean designer Juyeon Shin started her own design label for baby clothes OTTBEBE, made up of the Korean word for "knit" and the French word for "baby," so she told me.
The funny thing is a few years into her company, she had her own kids!
So, how did that change her perspective on designing baby togs?
"After I had my first baby I wanted to make the baby clothes as comfortable as possible."
This is not such an important consideration for adults, where the main thing is to look as cool as f**k, am I right?
How about some Japanese-made denim then? Not the raggedy, ripped up stuff that is imported at ridiculous prices from the USA!
How about some Japanese-made denim then? Not the raggedy, ripped up stuff that is imported at ridiculous prices from the USA!
Meanwhile, Japanese fashion label OKASHIRO has obviously been scratching its collective head about how to make the more mature woman blend elegantly into the crowd.
Their understated and well-tailored clothing for women is based on a design philosophy that focuses on "natural and calm expressions for modern women" with an emphasis on urban context and bodily comfort.
Their understated and well-tailored clothing for women is based on a design philosophy that focuses on "natural and calm expressions for modern women" with an emphasis on urban context and bodily comfort.
Following an adjacent aesthetic, veteran bag brand Y'SACCS was showing a range of their stylish designs in black.
Hitting the market in the 15,000 to 30,000 yen range, they occupy a well-respected mid-tier in the "great brand hierarchy," with bags that offer affordable, practical luxury.
Hitting the market in the 15,000 to 30,000 yen range, they occupy a well-respected mid-tier in the "great brand hierarchy," with bags that offer affordable, practical luxury.
.JPG)
After bags there are accessories. Here again there was a lot to choose from.
Self-taught designer Eika Taira had an eye-catching display of necklaces, bracelets, and earrings to launch her new label SOFIA IFTIKHAR. But be warned, these items are not for the frail or faint-hearted, with one necklace I picked up weighing in at around a solid kilo (estimate).
Then there is the brash opulence and the gothic vibe, with a hint of the Middle East (Eika told me she was married to a man of Muslim background).
Self-taught designer Eika Taira had an eye-catching display of necklaces, bracelets, and earrings to launch her new label SOFIA IFTIKHAR. But be warned, these items are not for the frail or faint-hearted, with one necklace I picked up weighing in at around a solid kilo (estimate).
Then there is the brash opulence and the gothic vibe, with a hint of the Middle East (Eika told me she was married to a man of Muslim background).
Another big trend at the show was hi-tech. Yes even in the rag-trade AI is making its presence felt—from advertising generated by AI to AI being used to spot fakes!
As is well known, fake luxury goods are a big problem all over Asia. Concerned owners wishing to verify their items have not had great options, according to Chiao Yi of FAKEBUSTERS, a Japanese company set up in 2019 to authenticate second-hand and resale luxury goods.
Originally, the company relied on human expertise, but in recent years they have been able to utilise AI as the first layer of a hybrid process. The AI model is trained on a large internal data set of genuine and counterfeit examples. With this as a foundation, it can resolve clear cut cases. Meanwhile the more difficult ones are passed on to human authenticators for the final call.
As is well known, fake luxury goods are a big problem all over Asia. Concerned owners wishing to verify their items have not had great options, according to Chiao Yi of FAKEBUSTERS, a Japanese company set up in 2019 to authenticate second-hand and resale luxury goods.
"Before people would have to send their Vuitton bags overseas to be authenticated," he explained. "But we can authenticate them here in Japan."
Originally, the company relied on human expertise, but in recent years they have been able to utilise AI as the first layer of a hybrid process. The AI model is trained on a large internal data set of genuine and counterfeit examples. With this as a foundation, it can resolve clear cut cases. Meanwhile the more difficult ones are passed on to human authenticators for the final call.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please feel free to comment. All comments are moderated.