Latest

    FIDé Fashion Weeks 2013: Japanese Couture – Junko Koshino + Japan Creative Centre Presents

    IMG_6177
    It was my second night here at FIDé Fashion Weeks 2013
    featuring Japanese Couture, an evening segment which showcase the collections
    of three well-known Japanese designers namely: Junko Koshino, Yoshiki Hishinuma
    and Keita Maruyama. 
    The first fashion show of the night was by Junko Koshino,
    one of the most highly acclaimed fashion designers in Japan. She is best known
    for her fashion label and boutique, Junko Koshino located in Toyko, Japan.
    Junko’s world of fashion is all about contrast, bold straight lines and
    geometrical shapes. She believes that putting the opposites together creates a
    whole. Her play of juxtaposition in colours,lines and shapes is her unique style
    of creating modern,edgy and dramatic fashion pieces for women. It’s amazing
    that even at the age of 74, Junko’s burning passion for fashion is still alive.

    As the models strut down the runway with Junko’s fashion pieces, you can’t help but to notice the beautiful contrast in texture and colours of the fabric that is probably one of the elements of haute couture – bold striking features which is attention-grabbing and eye-catching.The
    interplay of shapes and lines in her garments has also interestingly draws out the beautiful
    silhouette of women. After all, what’s fashion if it doesn’t adds character or
    enhance the beauty of a person?
    There were also some traditional and culture-inspired pieces
    in her collections where she cleverly turned traditional Japanese and Chinese
    costumes into simplified modern pieces of art. Though Junko’s clothings were couture pieces, I do feel that some of her pieces were actually made wearable for
    day-to-day occasions. Who knows, maybe we would be get bored of our everyday fashion one day and start wearing haute couture pieces on the streets? The individualistic-self inside of us could very well emerge anytime.
    The next segment of the show was by Japan Creative Centre
    (JCC) where the top 3 winners of the ‘3rd JCC
    Sustainable Fashion Design Contest
    ‘ from both Japan and Singapore
    present their award-winning designs. There are a total of 6 selected Street couture themed garments,
    designed by the top 3 winners of the contest,which will be displayed during the Japan Couture Evening. The winners of this fashion design contest are Emi
    Nagaiwa, Yuri Takagi and Shihori Morisawa from Bunka Fashion School; and Brenda
    Ling, Chen Zi Peng and Josephine Quek from the Fashion schools in Singapore.
    The Sustainable Fashion Design Contest, organized by Japan
    Creative Centre, is annual competition which was held since 2011. This competition serves as a platform
    for fashion designer students in Singapore and students from Bunka Fashion
    School (Tokyo) to exchange and share ideas on the growing importance of
    sustainability and responsible design within the fashion industry.

    Interestingly,
    sustainability has been very much linked to the Japanese philosophy of
    Monozukuri which means craftmanship. ‘Mono’ refers to things which are made and ‘Zukuri’ refers to the process of making things. This form of Japanese tradition is often related to the production of environmentally
    friendly craftwork where the craftsmen would exercise great care in using resources wisely,without being wasteful.

    It’s certainly heartening to know that there are such efforts made to
    promote the awareness of sustainable fashion (or eco fashion). Perhaps, an eco-couture showcase on the fashion runway could
    be organized during FIDé Fashion Weeks next year?



    JUNKO KOSHINO

    IMG_6188
    IMG_6195
    IMG_6201
    IMG_6208
    IMG_6211
    IMG_6218
    IMG_6222
    IMG_6231
    IMG_6234
    IMG_6237
    IMG_6243
    IMG_6261
    IMG_6262
    IMG_6265
    IMG_6269
    IMG_6274
    IMG_6278
    IMG_6298
    IMG_6301
    IMG_6310
    IMG_6312
    IMG_6319
    IMG_6321
    IMG_6345

    JAPAN CREATIVE CENTRE

    IMG_6362

    Designed by Emi Nagaiwa

    IMG_6368

    Designed by Yuri Takagi

    IMG_6378

    Designed by Shihori Morisawa

    IMG_6385

    Designed by Brenda Ling

    IMG_6388

    Designed by Chen Zi Peng

    IMG_6392

    Designed by Josephine Quek

    IMG_6398

    (Photos by Deenise Glitz. All images are unedited.)

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *