Category — Fashion

click to enlarge

Striped shirts, the ubiquitous yet timelessly classic fashion, just got a unique little accent. Design unit fift yesterday unveiled their latest product – a simple striped cotton button in various colors and patterns. Simple? Yes. Awesome? Yes. Each button is 735 yen.

If you recall, fift is the husband and wife design-duo Katsunari and Ami Igarashi, who brought us several unique fashion items like the Wipe Shirt with built-in microfiber and the infinitely customizable Pick A Jewel.

source: twitter

photos by Daici Ano | click to enlarge

The last time I got excited about a hat exhibition was… well ok, not everything has a precedence. But when globally-acclaimed Japanese design studio Nendo are brought in to design a retrospective celebrating the 70-year career of Akio Hirata, one of Japan’s foremost avant-garde hat designers, sparks – or better yet, hats – are sure to fly.

Born in 1925, Hirata immersed himself in hat design at the tender age of 14. In 1962 he travelled to Paris to serve as apprentice to Jean Barthet, one of France’s most prominent milliners with a clientele that included Grace Kelly and Sophia Loren. Upon returning to Japan he established Haute Mode Hirata, and went on to design hats for the likes of Issey Miyake, Comme des Garçons and Yohji Yamamoto.

In response to a request from Rei Kawakubo (Comme des Garçons) to design a hat that looks like “it had been left unused in someone’s dresser,” Hirata once famously created a hat adorned with crushed flowers. Much in the same way that Hirata was known for grabbing the creative reins, Nendo, in an unexpected turn of events, decided to flood the gallery space with roughly 4000 “ghost hats” that define the flow of activity. But more importantly, they serves as an antithesis to the roughly 130 original Hirata hats – both new and old – that span the designer’s career. Rather than drowning out Hirata’s work, the calculated move serves as a point of contrast, differentiating the fine craftsmanship and artistic sensibility that has defined Hirata as an artist.

The show takes place at Spiral, a multi-purpose cultural center that was included in our Tokyo Design Guide. If you thought you missed the exhibition, you’re in luck because it’s been extended. Originally scheduled to close on June 26th, overwhelming popularity prompted organizers to extend the show through this weekend.

Hirata’s hats | click to enlarge

———————————————————-

Hirata no Boshi (Hirata’s hats)
Spiral – 1F (Gmap)
06.15.2011 – 07.03
11:00 – 20:00
FREE

source: twitter | Spiral | Nendo

We’ve featured the 3D shikisai t-shirts before, by the husband and wife designer-duo Noto Fusai, but I wanted to update you with some new designs they’ve come up with and matching t-shirts for your dog (or large cat).

t-shirt | click images to enlarge

dog t-shirt

t-shirt | click images to enlarge

The (human) t-shirts are available from their store (Japan only) and through novelax (internationally). And the dog shirts are available in the US, at$30 from Everyday Studio based in San Francisco.

source: shikisai | noto-fusai | Dog Milk

Bonus: my favorite design -

Came across this super cute and fun ‘ge-ta’ (Japanese sandal) footwear for kids, just in time for the summer! These sandals are available in five different footprints: cat, gecko, owl, monkey and zaurus.

kiko+ brand was launched this May by Osaka based Kukkia Design, an interior design firm that started dabbling in toy design. The brands theme is simple, “Forest and children, children at play, play and art.” kiko+ specializes in “wooden toys and plans for kids” that will draw out the creativity, design and character of the child through play.

The sandals are available starting at ¥2,625~¥2,835. This footwear line is only one of eight products currently offered by kiko+. To see more of their fun and creative products, visit the kiko+ website.

egg necklace made from lacquer, sea shell, wood and gold leaf

Jewelry designer Naho Yamamoto has some new work. I was a huge fan of her book necklaces we showcased back in 2009. But how great is that fried egg necklace? I wonder if she can do an eggs benedict necklace?

chico’s house brooch

bird ring made from lacquer, sea shell and wood

source: Naho Yamamoto‘s website

screenshots | click to enlarge

Last week United Arrows, a retailer of casual men’s and women’s apparel, announced that they were launching styling simulation website UA Style Share. Comprised of over 7000 items from their 7 primary store bands, users will be able to customize an avatar and then style it by using simple drag-and-drop functionality. Users will also have the option of saving entire wardrobes to a look-book, as well as sharing different looks on facebook, twitter or mixi.

It’s a cool idea. It’s been tried before but it feels like if there’s anywhere it could work, it would be in Japan.

source: fashionsnap

Singapore-born photographer Leslie Kee, who has called Japan a “second home” shooting high fashion editorials in Asia since the late 90′s, recently teamed up with Tiffany & Co. Japan to create “Love & Hope.” The photobook features 252 pages of 200 female celebrity portraits from 32 different countries; Lady GaGa, Jennifer Lopez, Naomi Campbell, Devon Aoki to name a few. Leslie Kee’s photographs, featured in the book, can be seen prior to the book’s release in an exhibit at the Omotesando Hills Main Building, B3F Space O (4-12-10 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) from May 27th through the 31st. Admission is free.

The book will be released on June 1st for 5,250 yen at Leslie Kee’s exhibit in Omotesando Hills, at AOYAMA Francfranc and via Amazon.co.jp. There are two versions of the cover featuring Ayumi Hamasaki, prominent J-pop singer, with the rest of the book’s content being the same. All proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross to help the disaster relief efforts in the Tohoku region of Japan.

Source: Tiffany & Co. Japan | @lesliekeesuper on Twitter

“The concept is ‘Shape of Water – Transparent Time.’”
- Yoshioka Tokujin

The name “O” is derived from “eau;” French for water. Taking visual cues from his optical bench “Waterfall,” Tokujin Yoshioka designed this watch for Issey Miyake, continuing his long-lasting collaboration with his mentor. The watch should be available in July (for 16,800 yen) when there will be a special model celebrating the 10th anniversary of Issey Miyake watch project.

I would love to have this time piece!

TO is another watch designed by Tokujin for Issey Miyake.

source: SII press release

Conceptual Japanese fashion designer Kunihiko Morinaga, who is better known as ANREALAGE – a combination of the words “real, unreal and age” – debuted his 2011-12 Autumn/Winter collection in Tokyo during April, roughly 1 month after the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. Last year, which marked his first showing in 3 years, he chose to rethink the entire form of the human body. This year Morinaga transitioned from the world of 3D to 2D and titled his collection “LOW,” a reference to the low-resolution 8-bit imagery that is so effective at deconstructing form.

In fact, the designer writes that prior to the earthquake he was interested in how low resolution destroys all shape and form. However, post-earthquake, this concept took a 180 degree turn as the designer became more aware of how both shape and pattern, even when deconstructed, strive to maintain their original form. The farther it’s removed the greater the original form is evoked.

Photos by Fashionsnap.com | click to enlarge


photo by changefashion.net

As usual, I love Morinaga’s attention to detail. The pixilated faces totally make the show. I also can’t get enough of those shoes!

source: fashionsnap.com | designboom | anrealage

This simple valet called “Spring Day” crated for Busso by Kensaku Oshiro, an Okinawan transplant now living in Milan. Kensaku has taken part in several exhibitions including Salone Satellite in Milan, Tokyo Designers Week, New Design Generation in China and has won prestigious awards: Elle Décor France – Young Talent of the Year (2006), Red Dot Design Award (2008), IF Design Award (2009).  See more of his work at: www.kensakuoshiro.com.

Visit Busso’s site to see the rest of their furniture collection, all  ”clean, straightforward design whose excellent finishing enjoys high regard.” You can also purchase pieces on their E-store (US only) at: shopbussolari.mybigcommerce.com