The City of Change: Tokyo

Tokyo, the capital of Japan, has influenced fashion through the culture, advances in technology ad the designers that have emerged from the buzzing city.

The most significant designers that originated from Tokyo, Issey Miyake and the Comme Des Garcon designers, Rei Kawakubo and Yohji Yamomoto have had an impact on fashion due to their new thinking and courage to not conform.

Issey Miyake’s successful collection from 1993, “Pleats Please” used paper to create permanent pleats in fabric once the paper is removed, and since has used this new pleating in many collections. Comme Des Garcon are though to have revolutionised fashion in the 1980s’ by pursing an alternative “anti-fashion” route in comparison to the label frenzy that was prominent at the time. They did this by offering modesty rather than extravagance, on the catwalk, models would wear flat shoes and no make-up.

Tokyo is seen as a city with style as well as wealth and new technology. The Gucci Group decided it would be the most suitable city for a “Gucci Tower”. The Gucci Ginza tower has 8 floors of clothing, accessories, and more, epitomising the wealthy culture in the capital city. Tom Ford would be proud!