Future Beauty
‘Future Beauty: 30 Years of Japanese Fashion’ focuses on the famed avant-garde innovation of Japanese fashion designers and highlights their influence moving forward.
From the early 1980s Japanese designers have revolutionised the way the world thinks of fashion. Their designs reflect a range of influences from Japanese aesthetics, reinterpretations of Western couture, punk aesthetics and Japanese street fashion.
The exhibition groups the garments into four thematic sections. ‘In Praise of Shadows’, which explores the Japanese designers’ interest in materials, textures and forms, and consciousness of light and shade. ‘Flatness’, which explores the simple geometries and interplay of flatness and volume in the work of Issey Miyake and Rei Kawakubo. In the third section the relationship between ‘Tradition and Innovation’ is considered – from the reinvention of traditional Japanese garments and techniques, such as kimonos and origami, to technological advances. The final section focuses on the phenomenon that is ‘Cool Japan’ and examines the symbiotic relationship between street style, popular culture and high fashion.
The snapshot of 30 years not only reflects on the significant influence of Japanese design in fashion, but also asks what role Japanese designers will play moving forward.
‘Future Beauty’ is on display at the Seattle Art Museum, US from Thursday 27 June until Sunday 8 September 2013. Following its visit to Seattle, the exhibition will travel to the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, US where it will be on view from Saturday 16 November until Sunday 26 January 26 2014.
