New Balance Fever

Removing the weekend only label from sneakers has always been a New Balance speciality.
The unisex styles are standout, being less bulky than both the men's and women's editions.
A bit more on the expensive side as they are produced in America and the UK and are a privately owned company, but worth it.

Nike Roshe Run

Nike Roshe Run came out of nowhere to ride the wave of high-fashion gone casual, and was embraced by sneaker freaks and the general populace alike.
Starting out on the more subdued side, with Premium, woven and block coloured editions being released, the Roshe Run then branched out to include colour-ways for the more select market.

 

 

More likely to be seen on the streets of Tokyo are the Tie-Dye, Nebular, Rainbow woven (I have seen these both in shops and on the feet of Tokyoites) and my personal favourite, Island Girls.

 

 

 

Taking it Down Town, Nippori

A five minute walk out the south exit of Nippori station in Tokyo is Textile Town. While daunting at first the layout is super easy and after the first visit you can make a few quick purchases as you wait for your transferring train out of Tokyo.

'Pinapple' from Tomato (Select), Liberty flower prints from パキラ

The Tomato stores are a chain with each one supposedly specialising in a particular textile, with five stores located randomly down the street and half of them having junk, it's easy to get disheartened. The one saving grace is the 'Tomato (Select)' Store which is the closest to the station. It’s two stories and stocks the more high quality textile and locally designed linens.

Liberty fabrics (often does colabs with Nike) can be sourced in both Tomato (Select) and the パキラ store.

 

Sparse on silks and wool blends and workable knits, you can’t compare it to Global Fabrics designers off cuts that I'm use to but for a kooky linen print you've got the right place.

 

ZOZOTOWN.jp

ZoZoTown website has a simple yet spot on concept, selected shops in Japan pair together looks from stocked labels, picking from a range of collections, with everything being sourced in store. Basically it's an online stylist, find a combo that sparks an interest and then head down, fish it out or buy online. They even have an app out by the same name, all in Japanese obviously.

 

Check it out at http://zozo.jp/, make sure to browse Freak's Store, a personal favourite

 

Saves time while shopping in Tokyo, even works in the reverse, with the stores giving an honest showing of their overall feel you know where to save your feet a few blisters and not bother.

This is just one facet of the ZoZoTown concept, they also do home wear and have ZoZoGallery, ZoZoPeople ect.

Find the European branch dealing with Tokyo brands at http://zozotown.com/

Literal Translations

 

 

A forest motif saved me from going a bit too far this week. I was hoping to not make too much of a literal translation, with just red and white, I would have been a walking Japanese flag.

 

 

A Clowder of Cats

They already think the foreigner is crazy, so why not wear a tunic with hundreds of screeching cats. Japan supplies the fabric, I just sew it, it's not my fault.

Downside, Upside

It's been a minute, but who can blame me when there's a Japanese/locally printed fabric overload at my apartment.
First textile I've banged out is a dandelion (some say different, up for interpretation) print, patterned into a light weight dress cut to just above the ankle with piping detail on the front.
Downside, the light coloured fabric makes pale skin look crazy opaque. Upside, Japanese people love pasty.

Crooks & Castles, 'Puttin in Work'

Crooks & Castles have been blessing our wardrobes for 10 years.
Showing their new line 'Puttin in Work' at Magic (buyers convention) in Las Vegas.

http://vimeo.com/62319450

Overalls All Over Again

For fresh style go to old trends with ‘traditional denim’ blue overalls.

 

Denims one of the textiles I have always had trouble sourcing in New Zealand. Perfect shade was so easy to find in Japan. Teamed with orange stitching around the pockets and back panel and you’re ready to kill it. Not to mention so comfortable, why the hell did these ever die out?

Oh yea, that’s why.

Contrast. Japan's weird fabric choices

The Japanese have a weird love for this fabric, it's a bit to 'wolf in sheep's clothing' for me, I think they like it just because it's blond. Embraced the madness and have been playing around with colours and textures.

Good Omens

Using light colours and bold prints on collared shirts to lighten things up for spring. It's been a long winter.

 

 

Production in Japan

It’s been a minute. Reason being I bought a sewing machine a few months ago. Also Japan has [if possible] too much inspiration, with its unique perception on design, styling and what's accepted in society [anything].

Wanted to head in a slightly different direction so have been working on new patterns and a new process in working out designs. Japan enables you to sew for creativity rather than need.

Wool blend

One: Reversible wool top with back zip, to be worn in autumn/spring as is and winter with a button up shirt underneath. One of the most tricky/head scratching/'so science'/technical things I’ve made; reversible things are hard, and I really only wear one side, why do I make it difficult.

 

 

Two: Pinafore. Using the same dark blue wool blend but with a bold tangerine shade of orange linen in the waist detailing.

Uemulo Munenoli

Uemulo Munenoli is a Japanese designer who's unique concept on the basic button up shirt is both boldly simple and inspiring. His brand concept and my adapted designs below.

Uemulo Munenoli

Uemulo Munenoli

Uemulo Munenoli

 

シャツライン “uemulo munenoli”
ホワイトシャツという静寂の中のジオメトリック。
音楽、カルチャーを含んだその時その時代を組み込んだ新しい造形。
シャツのカテゴリーを超えたコンセプチュアルなコレクション。

The pure silence of white shirts meets geometric sculptures.“Uemulo Munenoli”presents conceptual women’s shirt collection which is essentially inspired by contemporary Art, Music and Culture. His pieces are more than just a shirt. The combination of natural softness of the white shirts and his own distinctive geometric style creates a beautiful reaction.


Wonderex

Wonderex is a chain of Japanese second hand stores. I know what you’re thinking, opshops are over hyped and over trawled, this one’s different. Japan doesn't seem to have many second hand stores, I don't know where all their stuff goes, either horded up in their little houses or...wonderex.

Don't think of the typically New Zealand second hand store which either, A: where everything is under $5 and you have to wash the clothing at least five times before it smells wearable. or B: where the ridiculously priced clothing is all slightly strange, covered in bad repair jobs and there’s a few tasselled lamps in the corner. No, a Japanese second hand store like Wonderex is chocka block with bargains of clothing, furniture, electronics and sports equipment. The Japanese population have a very convenient habit of buying all the right gear, keeping it in pristine condition to only use it for one season.

So the first day of winter was on Saturday and it snowed while I was down in Mito. So I 'had' to go and buy this woollen extra thick, extra warm jumper (and a tropical shirt to go underneath because it’s sad that it’s not summer at Christmas and a bit of colour is always nice).

I actually got my couch from here. Crazy cheap because there’s no demand for couches when everyone sits on the floor. They even offer to deliver it to your house for a small fee, but if you prefer (which we did) you can just take their mini truck and deliver it yourself, no exchange of keys no need to sign a waiver just total trust.

So do yourself a favour and go have a wander at wonderex, or a second look if you’re already onto the magic.

Go Slow Caravan

Prepare yourselves for some redline levels of swag that only a Japanese label could pull off; Go Slow Caravan. Came across this label in a small menswear shop in Mito last weekend, and aside from the strange English name they give a unique and Japanese take on an outdoorswear clothing company. It has the typically Japanese vibe with the tendency to go wild out on the patterns and colour combinations. Check out some of my seasonal picks after the .

Note the contrasting back pockets, this seems to be a huge trend feature in Japan fashion; I want to say trend but it's so much more than that, it seems to have been around of awhile and looks like it's as common in design as putting buttons on a shirt.

There's loads to choose from with a wide range of products for both men and women, provided you have enough guts to pull the full look off. Japanese people seem to be born with an impeccable eye for layering and detailing and know just the right amount of crazy.

A few of the standouts for me were the new line of winter coats, playing with a quilted fabric in the body and a thick stiff wool weave in the arms in a more subdued colour range
(no pictures as yet ごめんなさい).