Designing Real Fashion――Theatre Products

Theatre Products (designers Akio Takeuchi, Miwa Morita) presents its collections in a different format each season. For Spring/Summer '17, models and mannequins stood in a line within a gallery space. Vibrant colors, bold patterns, and flowing silhouettes immediately captured the eye. The pieces, inspired by African prints and batik, felt ethnic yet refined. The theme was "GOLD MINE"—what might be discarded by some is a treasure to others. The collection reimagined couture with an emphasis on customizing vintage clothing. The styling of scarves and accessories showcased humor and flair. These are clothes designed for joyful strolls through the city.

Exploring New Volume and Styling――mintdesigns

mintdesigns (designers Hokuto Katsui, Nao Yagi) is known for its lighthearted collections, but this season felt decidedly more mature. While the voluminous parkas and knits were not overly loose, they were elegantly finished with prints and jacquards. Drawstrings, used to cinch sleeves and bottoms and add a playful element of fabric manipulation, incorporated sneaker laces. The collection featured new styling approaches with draped fabrics and layered silhouettes.

Elevating Basics with Elegance――beautiful people

beautiful people (designer Hidenori Kumakiri) will be showing in Paris starting next season, making this their final Tokyo collection. Among the trendy items like pajama pants and jumpsuits, the standout for me were the flared lace pants, perfect paired with a chunky knit. While lace skirts dominated Spring/Summer '16, lace pants feel fresh for next spring. The trench coat-inspired sleeveless dress and the fil coupé (cut fringe) pants are also generating buzz. The key is to wear them with a polished sensibility. I eagerly anticipate their next presentation in Paris.

• To Series | Terumi Hagiwara's Fashion Days TOP