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.