PLACING TOKYO ON THE FASHION MAP: FROM CATWALK TO STREET STYLE

As introduced in the article, Tokyo walked from the influence of the western culture of fashion to the influencer of street and Japanese cultural fashion of the world. After reading the paragraph, I found out the elements made Japan stand out with their style were identity, change within the western world, and the influence of the young with new media.

change within the western world

Tokyo became a Fashion center starting from the 1970s and 80s. Japan was one of the countries that experience the economic crisis of oil, yet, other western countries had experienced a postwar economic growth between the 70s to the 80s. Then to the 90s, Japnese designers had successfully established their position in the Western Market and company. Designers such as Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto, and Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons, had brought the elements of one shape fashion and simplicity into the western trend.

 identity

After reading the paragraph, I think a factor of the success in Japanese fashion is the expression of unique identity as Japnese. A lot of the clothing design from Japan reflects its paradoxy, simplicity, and pickiness. Incorporating their own culture of Japan with strict rules of clothing, they developed styles that were contrasting due to western influence. These contrasts rose after the permanent stress of life was free, and because of these cultures of rules that were deep in their roots, the ones who break the restrictions became even more uniques as designers and artists.

influence of the young with new media

No fashion is diffused locally or globally without the mass media. The production process of fashion is always strongly connected to fashion magazines(Moeran 2006). This quote from the reading inspired me to question who, what, and when does a trend start? Was it lead by the young’s creativity? By the controls from supreme power and companies? Or by the spreading of repeated media itself? It mentioned that the Fashionable youngs would gather on the street of Harajuku to be seen for their fashion. Although Japan uses to cramped to uniqueness, it is those restrictions that form a contrast for the youngs in another different view with subcultures and street styles. Presenting yourself on street is also a kind of advertisement that persuades people to trust in your authentic value. Nowadays, streets are a place where photographers of magazines search for new styles and trends, which Moeran had correctly mentioned the source of control from the mass media of fashion.

Although majorly influence by the Paris fashion industry, Japan, however, find their way and became one of the centers of fashion in the world.