'Future Beauty: Avant-Garde Japanese Fashion' in Kyoto

31 Mar '14

2 min read

The National Museum of Art in Kyoto, Japan, is currently hosting the internationally-acclaimed touring exhibit titled ‘Future Beauty: Avant-Garde Japanese Fashion’, which celebrates the quirky, out-of-the-box, futuristic Japanese fashion designs.

With a primary aim to highlight the revolting contrast between the free-flowing Japanese silhouettes and the form-fitting western couture of 1980s and 90s, the display features more than 100 designs from famous names like Rei Kawakubo (COMME des GARCONS) and Yohji Yamamoto along with young labels Kunihiko Morinaga of Anrealage and Keisuke Nagami.

Slated to run through May 11, 2014, the exhibition is divided into four categories such as In Praise of Shadows, Flatness, Tradition and Innovation, and Spinning Stories.

The In Praise of Shadows section showcases clothing based strictly in black and monotones. Some of the standout pieces are a black knit by Rei Kawakubo and a pierced white cotton dress from Yohji Yamamoto.

The Flatness category includes designs created exclusively with free artistic expressions peppered with origami techniques. Replete with elaborate workmanship, the major highlight of the showcase includes a three-dimensional dress, which changes shapes when picked up from the floor, designed by Issey Miyake.

The Tradition and Innovation segment highlights high-tech pieces made collaboratively by Japanese fashion designers and textile manufacturers. The exhibits include water-repellent material made dresses by Junya Watanabe and Anrealage-designed coats which change colour when come in direct contact with ultraviolet rays.

The final section Spinning Stories features designs from the 1990s to 2000s. Inspired from the manga and anime subcultures, the showcase includes clothing, made from Parisian flea market collected fabrics and leather, by Aski Kataski as well as knits and blouses created by Kaoru Yokoo.

The exhibit first started in 2010 at the Barbican Art Gallery in London. Before reaching Kyoto, it had toured five cities around the world, including Massachusetts (Peabody Essex Museum).

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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