Cosplay in Japan

Cosplay

The word cosplay is a Japanese portmanteau of the English words ‘costume’ and ‘play’.

Cosplay sources include; manga and anime, comic books, cartoons, games and a range of films. Cosplay grew in the 1990’s, particularly in Asia which influences Japanese street fashion.

Cosplay in Japan

Increased interest in cosplay events in Japan lead to event such as Gomiket being set up. Events such as this, have led to a range of cosplay restaurants to be set up in the Akibara district since 1998. These restaurants are devoted to anime and manga, café’s such a maid café’s focus on the having the customers served by maid’s.

Harajuku is a favourite place for people to gather for cosplay in public. In Harajuku cospay influence fashion is popular, for example, different types of Lolita fashion. 

Japanese Trends: Dreads

Japanese Trends: Dreads
I know that this post is not Japan related as such but I have seen dreads in Japanese fashion a lot recently and I think that it is just amazing!
Most dreads that are seen are synthetic ones which are full of bright colours. As well as showing some wonderful photos I thought I'd share a brand that I adore their synthetic dreads.

These are both girls from the high streets of Japan.

Imp and Petal

One of my inspirations (non-Japanese) Psychara recently received synthetic dreads from the business Imp and Petal. They were absolutely beautiful, and ever since then I have been in love with these dreads. They are a business based in USA and  they specialize in hand crafted alternative hair pieces and accessories. All of there products are brilliant and they should definitely be bought. 

If you liked the styles above I think that you should go and check these guys out:

Website: http://www.impandpetal.etsy.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImpAndPetal

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ImpAndPetal

Here are some photos of their dreads: 

Model: Psychara

(Go follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Psychara)

( I do not own any of the photos used in this article)

Japanese Fashion Designer: H. Naoto

H. Naoto

Naoto Hirooka better known as h. NAOTO is a Japanese avant-garde fashion designer born in 1977 in Japan. His design styles are classed under punk and gothic lolita. He is said to be the 'most visible and successful of the labels fixated on that style'.

He graduated from Bunka fashion college in Tokyo, the joined s-inc. in 1999, then later launched his own brand h. NAOTO in the spring/summer of 2000. He has created clothing for famous icons like the dress Amy Lee of Evanescence which was worn in 2004 at the Grammy Awards. He has also created costumes for bands like 'Ayabie', 'psycho le cemu', 'Grackt' and 'S.K.I.N.'.

Naoto is inspired by the Japanese Street styles of Harajuku, specifically the girls of Harajuku. His very first fashion show in the United States of America was a collaboration with Yoshiki, to Naoto this was a great honour. He is thinking of opening a U.S. store (online) that's one of reasons he goes to conventions to communicate with fans - to get feedback.

H. Naoto has many branchs to his brand including Hangry & Angry and the frill line. Hangry & Angry were produced under the line 'Channel H' within Naoto's branches. "It depicts someone bullying and someone being bullied. It's actually meant to depict the society of Japan right now, but more in a comical way - to show the bullying that's happening in society right now" Says Naoto.
It was produced as "angry the one that bullies, and Hangry is the one that's being bullied. We do that as a graphic T-shirt showing the depiction of what's going on." Says Naoto also.

Japanese Fashion Designers: Tadashi Shoji

Tadashi Shoji

Tadashi Shoji is a Japanese-born American fashion designer. He was born in 1948 in Sedai, Japan. He was a contemporary artist in the 1960's and 1970's. He then moved to the united states to attend college and further his artistic development. He attended Los Angeles Trade Technical College where he studied fashion. As a student he apprenticed with costume designer Bill Whitten.

In 1982, Shoji launched his own lable. He now has his products in 4000 major department and specialty stores in more than 40 countries. Shoji debuted gis runway collection at the New York Fashion Week in 2007. His brand has 2 boutiques, one in South coast plaza and the other in Las Vegas. He also has a e-commerce website and opened boutiques in shanghi and beijing in July 2012. Shoji was one of the 26 new members accepted into the council of Fashion Designers Of America (an exclusive not-for-profit trade association of over 400 of Americans foremost fashion and accessory designers.)

He has won a loyal following with women worldwide, including a wide range of celebrities (e.g. Octavia Spencer, Kate Beckinsale, Dita Von Teese, Mo'Nique, Helen Mirren and Katy Perry) with his designs. Shoji is known for designing for all ages, all ethnicities and all figures, he uses figure flattering techniques to accentuate the positives. Signature pieces include draped Jersey gowns, Pleated Chiffen Gowns and Shutter Pleated Cocktail Dresses.

  He was inspired when when he traveled to different cities and saw different elements and tried to mix all of those things together.

Japanese Fashion Designers: Daiki Suzuki

Daiki Suzuki  

Daiki Suzuki is a Japanese-born American clothing designer, he went to a design school the into work in retail, which prompted his own work at home (D.I.Y. of sorts.) After years of buying he was able to do what he does now. He is the head of the American clothing brand Engineered Garment. In 1970 he was one of the first buyer of Woolrich fashion in Japan. In 2001 Suzuki became the designer for Woolrich Woolen Mills in Amercia.

Suzuki says of his work, "I try to choose good dynamic designs with patterns that can be modified for today's use. Usually I re-work the fits as lightly as possible, being careful not to re-produce vintage designs—adding some things and taking some off, balancing it out to make it look new." 

Engineered Garments began in 1999 as a way of Suzuki to make his own products, a product you couldn't find. The business shifted when the internet was becoming more and more popular - things were no longer hard to find! The internet was great for expanding the entire clothing industry but specialty was being killed.

Suzuki wasn't as such influenced, EG was very personal to him. He says "it's about clothes I have seen, worn, bought and grew up with, for me its an amalgamation of all these things" along with "I approach my work with my personal experiences only"

He has a calm approach to his company saying that "If anyone is interested and we are approached we are more than happy to start dialogue and hopefully it's a good result. EG is not about being cool or making people look a certain way but it can help."

Japanese Fashion Designers: Junya Watanabe

Junya Watanabe

 Junya Watanabe was born in 1961 in Fukushima. He attended Bunka Fashion college, graduating in 1984. He is renowned for creating innovative and distinctive clothing. His designs reflect the princible of his mentor Kawabuko.

His style changes dramatically every season, by taking a stab at futuristic designs like wrapping neon punks or abstract oriental peasant wear on poetic stark white. He gives his clothes an unnusual look by adding random tucking, pleating or ruching.

In 1995 his collection was all boiled wool and black leather with tattoos on the models. He is very interested in synthetic and technological advanced textiles and fabrics like found in his 2001 spring/summer line.

Kimono Time

KIMONO'S

I was scrolling through my tumblr feed  and I found a picture of two men where unconventional kimonos. I loved them, my love of traditional Japan and punk were fused together in this item of clothing. They looked great! The colours and patterns were traditional but they way they were worn and their hair and makeup wasn't. I thought they had found a great way to mix up something so traditional! <3