Mushed up 2000s

Even it was just a few years ago, it is very hard to definite particular subcultures in 2000s. All trend what I am sure is just skinny jeans became everybody's common wear. In Japan, fashion trend cycle became shorter and shorter. Also high street brands and cheap fashion became mainstream. 1990s was a kind of trends which we wear import brands. Burberry and Vivian Westwood were everywhere among high-school girls. Even I had a Prada purse because it was also 'must item' among young girls.
However, in 2000s, I wore garments whatever I can get very cheap. There was not unique design at all. All  boutiques designed almost same shapes, colours and fabrics. I can say it is uni-formed trend era. All young people wore similar clothes. So I should realize some subcultures, but still, it is difficult because these two things, fashion and subculture has become non-connection. Just, already decided trends were running crazily.

http://listen.jp/store/musicnews_26566_2.htm

Well known Japanese designers: part2

Yoji Yamamoto (born Oct 3, 1943)

-After he finished a digree in law, started fashion digree again in 1969.

-1981, Debut in Paris.
-He makes flagship stores in New York, Paris and Antwarp through 80s to 90s.
-He collaborates with many way.
e.g.) Adidas, Hermes, Mandarina Duck and Takeshi Kitano

 http://www.fashion-forum.org/images/designers/yohji-yamamoto.jpg

http://www.hintmag.com/blog/labels/Yohji%20Yamamoto.html

http://www.bagbliss.com/designer/other-designer-purse/yohji-yamamoto-to-produce-handbags-with-mandarina-duck/

http://en.item.rakuten.com/jimu/j025243090730h1499/

Rei Kawakubo (born Oct 11, 1942)

-The founder of Comme des Garçons

-1973, she establiched her company.
-1982, opens her boutique in Paris.
-Her designs have inspired many other late designers.
e.g.) Martin Margiela, Ann Demeulemeester and Helmut Lang.

http://www.nitrolicious.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/rei-kawakubo.jpg

http://www.asianfashion.com/blog/rei-kawakubo-a-darker-success.html

http://saintwire.blogspot.com/2010/03/rei-kawakubocomme-des-garcons.html

Junya Watanabe (born 1961)

-1984, he starts internship at Comme des Garçons as a pattern maker.

-1987, He promotes as a chief designer of Tricot knitwear line.
-1992, He starts his own line under the Comme Des Garçons name.
-1993, He begins showing in Paris.
-2007, He iss licenced by Converse to design a series of All-Star shoes

http://cache.ykone.com/8033B4/media/image/persons/1213/junya_watanabe_.jpg

http://couturecarrie.blogspot.com/2008/08/xenophile.html

http://designerslibrary.typepad.com/designers_library/fashion_designers/

Nigo (Tomoaki Nagao)  (born Dec 23, 1970)

-He is a DJ and the creator of A Bathing Ape, known as Bape

-1993, His first store opens at Harajuku, Tokyo.
-2005, He launches the first store in New York.
-He collaborates with many other brand characters like SpongeBob Squarepants, Nintendo and Hello Kitty.

http://www.buybapehoodies.com/img/nigo.jpg

http://www.bifuteki.com/tag/a-bathing-ape/

http://thestreetsonline.com/2009/01/bathing-ape-bapesta88-new-colorways-japan-limited-edition/

http://dogcat.tistory.com/entry/A-Bathing-Ape-2008-Winter-Catalog

Well known Japanese designers: part1

Hanae Mori (born Jan 8, 1926)

-The only Japanese woman to have presented her collections on the runways of Paris and New York
-The first Asian woman as an official haute couture design house by the fédération française de la couturein France
-Opened in Japan in 1951, grew to become a $500 million international business by the 1990s

http://www.perfumetr.com/designers/Hanae%20Mori/Hanae-Mori.jpg

http://www.vintagetextile.com/gallery_designer.htm

http://www.hanaemori-foundation.or.jp/en/index.html

http://www.dollgenie.com/d/designers-series.html

Kenzo Takada (born Feb 27, 1939)

-Settled in Paris in 1964
-His collection was presented in New York and Tokyo in 1971 and became success.
-Since 1993 the brand Kenzo is owned by LVMH.
-Aannounce his retirement in 1999
-In 2005, he reappeared as a decoration designer.

http://fashion.3yen.com/wp-content/images/kenzo_takada_1.jpg

http://styleskilling.com/2006/11/10/a-vivid-awakening-for-spring-2007/

http://www.metapostmodernknitting.com/MetaBlog/tabid/59/EntryID/9/Default.aspx

Issey Miyake (born Apr 22, 1938)
-Born in Hiroshima and witnessed and survived the nuclear bomb.
-1970, He founded the Miyake design studio.
-Late 80s, he started experimenting about pleating.
-1993, Pleats Please
-1999, he turned over to Naoki Takizawa to consentrate on researching

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/jezebel/2009/07/issey_miyake_05.jpg

http://www.theclackers.com/tag/hussein+chalayan

 http://imfashionistas.blogspot.com/2010/11/issey-miyake-unfolds-origami-inspired.html

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/2003.79.3



Michiko Koshino (born 1942)

-1978, She moved to London and opened up her first store in Covent Garden
-Her designs were worn by the Spice Girls, Placebo, and Natalie Imbruglia
-She became success in many way and created her big unbrella from fibre to lighter companies.

http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/240x360/k_n/mkoshinoSS06B.jpg

http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/galleries/TMG3353699/2/In-pictures-Sophie-Solomon.html

http://stupidphotographer.blogspot.com/2007/11/michiko-koshino-has-balls.html

http://www.smh.com.au/news/Fashion/Mop-tops-n-tails/2005/02/21/1108834696032.html

80s to 90s, Japanese designers' challenges.

How many faces do you recognize?
They are famous Japanese designers who work internationally.
The answer will be in next post.

http://www.perfumetr.com/designers/Hanae%20Mori/Hanae-Mori.jpg

http://fashion.3yen.com/wp-content/images/kenzo_takada_1.jpg

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/jezebel/2009/07/issey_miyake_05.jpg

http://www.nitrolicious.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/rei-kawakubo.jpg

http://www.fashion-forum.org/images/designers/yohji-yamamoto.jpg

http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/240x360/k_n/mkoshinoSS06B.jpg

http://www.buybapehoodies.com/img/nigo.jpg

Cosplay, Another subculture from Japan

Probably, the origin of cosplay is from USA Halloween party, then SF masquerade party like Star Trek costumes. Then the culture came to Japan in 70s but it was very minority.
In 80s, Manga and Anime movement get becoming vital and some of people started wearing similar design costumes to Manga and Anime characters. 1990s, the trend becomes very popular because women Otaku increased very much. And now, cosplay becomes an everybody acceptable hobby.



This kind of subculture can see in London as well. Especially at Japan Expo, there are many cosplayers both Japanese and British.



So what is the background for this subculture?
I think that it is an extreme individual expression. since middle 90's, we have not had particular big trend in fashion. People had to choose styles by themselves or follow subdivided small pieces of trends every seasons. Cosplaying is very self-satisfied subculture, but it is seemed to be good hobby.

[copyrights]

Nippon Sunrise, Inc

http://pspbox.livedoor.biz/archives/688434.html

1992 Naoko Takeuchi / Kodansha /TOEI Animation

http://www.cosplayisland.co.uk/costume/view/6391

Manga, Anime, from Japanese subcultures.

1990s, it was the Golden age for Manga and Anime. Many famous works are made in the decades. And nowadays, one of Japanese main export items are Anime and Manga. These are becoming very common expressions in Japan and so do the other countries like USA and France. However, in fact, it was an English man who started introducing Japanese Anime to the world.

Chris Blackwell (born June 22, 1937) is the founder of Island Records. It became one of the most successful independent labels of the 1960s and 1970s. In 1991, He started Manga business with  Andy Frain. By middle 90s, Manga entertainment had spread out to USA and Australia more than the UK own.

http://www.freebase.com/view/en/chris_blackwell

These are well known Manga and Anime. How many characters do you recognize?



The effect came up to Fashion business as well.
Japanese high street brand, UNIQLO collaborated with many anime and manga as wide T-shirt range. Hello Kitty (Did you know, it is officially an British cat!) has already become too famous for everyone. Even H&M tied up with it recently.

[copyrights]

1992 Naoko Takeuchi / Kodansha /TOEI Animation

http://www.cosplayisland.co.uk/costume/view/6391

1995 Gainax

http://evangelion-sp.seesaa.net/article/157278704.html

Masashi Kishimoto/Hayato Date/Shueisha/Studio Pierrot/TV Tokyo/Viz Media

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEFONQXHc7BNTAkgoptAoVPS3-7LTGaceZrdyYZsvsXL-NRnlFOymitpSg6lDfsPB0HXh3AHdZEIbX_wzDI6lD9HMk6gfuIP9vh2_UwRyHbesZ2uPG5jmgRNaXU4ntGgT_oCBcuvrwtGQb/s1600/naruto_gaara.jpg

Toriyama Akira, Toei Animation

http://images.psxextreme.com/wallpapers/ps3/dragon_ball_z_01.jpg

Masamune Shirow/Kodansha Ltd./Bandai Visual Co., Ltd./Manga Entertainment

http://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/2010/05/23/may-23-2010-lets-talk-anime/

Nintendo

http://www.buffcorp.com/images/pokemon.jpg

 Nippon Sunrise, Inc

http://www.animepalm.com/mobile-suit-gundam/mobile-suit-gundam-episode-38-english-dubbed/

© 2006-2010 Tenkai-japan

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JSPRajY1L.jpg

Video games influence to...

1990, Super Nintendo and Super Mario, they made a video game storm all over the world. And still now, Super Mario is an iconic character that everybody can recognize. So it was natural that he became to see on Tee shirt at that moment.

Soon after, in 1994, Sony launches Play Station 1. What was the difference is Play Station 1 made available 3D graphics to use as video game. The screen is a famous software, Tomb Raider 1. I remember that I have been very surprised about it when I played PS1 first time.

So, what did they introduce to our world?

One is obviously to film, especially Hollywood. These technology helped improving special effect very much. Even some video games became actual film like this. And these video game cultures connected another small subculture, cos-play.

 http://nintendo.wikia.com/wiki/Super_Nintendo_Entertainment_System

http://mohebban.burjalsaheb.com/?p=402

http://www.mozbot.co.uk/2010/03/retrospective-tech-4-innovations-we-have-the-1990s-to-be-thankful-for/

http://www.armchairempire.com/Previews/multi-platform/lara-croft-tomb-raider-legend.htm

http://laracroft.wikia.com/wiki/Lara_Croft:_Tomb_Raider