One of the most talked about collections at Tokyo Fashion Week was the YOSHIKIMONO First Collection, a range of rock star kimonos created by a Japanese rock star so famous he goes merely by his first name, Yoshiki.
As a musician, composer, songwriter, and record producer, Yoshiki has a wide variety of creative interests and now he’s stepping out into the world of fashion with a collection of edgy kimonos featuring unorthodox prints and unusual obi wraps.
During his show at fashion week, the audience was blown away by Yoshiki’s artistic vision as his kimono-clad models walked around him on the runway while he provided the soundtrack to it all with a classical piano recital.
Yoshiki is best known as the co-founder and leader of heavy metal band X Japan. Heavily influenced by glam rock bands such as KISS, X Japan became one of the pioneers in Japan’s own glam rock movement, known as visual kei, back in the ’80s. While he’s played drums and piano with the band for years, his eye for alternative clothing has now found a platform in the fashion world.
When it came time for his unique collection to make its debut, Yoshiki brought the drama by appearing on stage in a traditional Noh theatre mask and a casually slung kimono.
He then sat at his Kawai crystal grand piano and began to play Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, gradually moving through a number of pieces until he was joined by a string quartet, lasers, and a model who showed up for this dramatic moment in the middle of the thirteen-minute performance.
The kimono collection was enhanced by dramatic hairstyles adorned with the biggest hairpins we’ve ever seen. Hair is a big part of heavy metal and the models’ long multicoloured tresses and enormous hairdos were a nice nod to Yoshiki’s musical roots.
Yoshiki’s unique take on the traditional garment incorporates gold netting and leopard-print fabrics. He said he wanted to combine rock and roll with tradition and even mentioned that he wants to see women wear kimonos to his concerts.
Yoshiki gave the kimonos a hard edge by hiking up the hemlines and exposing stockinged legs in black leather high heels and knee-high boots.
Bright colours and exposed skin take the traditionally formal outfit to a much more casual place, while still retaining much of the elegance of old Japan. Yoshiki also has a traditional line but for Tokyo Fashion Week he wanted to show off the “sexier version”.
One of the most dramatic pieces in the collection featured a black and red pattern with leopard-print details, a leather obi (sash) and a black mask.
At the end of the show, Yoshiki took a small bow amongst his spectacular designs. Not long after, he tweeted a photo, asking “How do you like it?”.
We like it, Yoshiki. We like it a lot.
To see the highlights from the show, check out the video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKy8Au0yV8g
If you’d like to see Yoshiki live, he’ll be performing in Japan at the end of the year with his band X Japan. After that, you can catch them at SSE Arena, Wembley, in London on March 12, 2016. Be sure to wear your kimonos!
Source: Japaaan
Top Image: Twitter/Fashion Press