JAPAN: Third-generation kimono designer Jotaro Saito unveils 'Futurism', a collection he hopes will bring the kimono into the 21st Century

Record ID: 466162

  • Title: JAPAN: Third-generation kimono designer Jotaro Saito unveils 'Futurism', a collection he hopes will bring the kimono into the 21st Century
  • Date: 21st March 2012
  • Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (MARCH 21, 2012) (REUTERS) MODEL WALKING DOWN CATWALK IN KIMONO AUDIENCE WATCHING SHOW MORE OF MODELS IN KIMONOS ON CATWALK
  • Embargoed: 5th April 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan, Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA87PJ2VN3LQYURI1IKCXAMEDUN
  • Story Text: In the traditional world of the kimono, this is as avant garde as it gets.
    On the catwalk at the Tokyo Fashion Show on Wednesday (March 21), third-generation kimono designer Jotaro Saito unveiled a collection he hopes will give the Japanese dress a modern twist.
    But surprisingly for a show entitled 'Futurism', this is far from the rejection of history that the artistic movement fought for a century ago.
    Instead, Saito says this is an evolution, taking progress to kimonos one sandal step at a time.
    "Japan has very traditional things, but the world also looks to us for subculture, like anime or computer games. A culture where the new and the classical coexist, well, I think that's fascinating," Saito told Reuters on the sidelines of his show.
    "How can I describe it? You could call it a new 'Japonisme'. So it's not a minimal or simple thing; what I want to try and reflect is the feel of this new Japonisme -- but in kimono form."
    To that end, much of Saito's collection will be familiar to kimono aficionados.
    Models still shuffle along the runway in sandals, still trussed up in traditional 'obi' belts.
    But in his 42 new creations, gone are conservative colours and patterns. Instead, there are horizontal lines, checks -- and even the occasional polka dot.
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