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.
