JFW TYO Japan Fashion Week 2009

Posted by Yuka as City Tokyo

January 27th: Snowflakes in the wind today may make you think the pain of winter will never go away! But I saw the hope of spring last night at the Japan Fashion Week in New York Spring 2009 fashion event. Sipping Jacob’s Creek Merlot and nibbling on tasty tidbits from Big Booty Bakery, located just a few blocks away from the Altman Building, where the fashion fest was held, truly gave me some pre-spring smiles. Jose Rojas, Big Booty’s brain, cooked goodies and hired an awesome wait staff that cruised their way through the jam-packed reception area with smiles, patience and good manners. Guest snatched up Jose’s rustic cheese bread stuffed with braised pork leg – my favorite. And for the non meat-eaters he served a fab herbed goat cheese on toast pointes, and other yummies.
The reception and runway show for Japan Fashion Week in New York kicked off a five-day retail exhibition for a baker’s dozen of Japanese designers including Hidenobu Yasui, Eri Utsugi, Naomi Yamamoto and Satoru Tanaka. The show started a few minutes late but no one seemed to care since the music was slamming. I just sipped my wine and surveyed the room. But got back into the scene when I spotted an interesting face underneath a red Kango-style cap. I chatted up this charming man, listening to the Spanish music in his accent and adoring his killer smile.
“If you want to see something different Japanese fashion is it! They take risks,” said Betto Mares, a transplanted Peruvian, who loves New York fashion. The guests were an international group indeed – New Yorkers from around the world, as well as an Asian contingent here to help plant Japanese designers more firmly into New York fashion ground.

New Yorkers came out in style last night — all kinds of styles — from basic black dresses, suits and ties, plus just crazy, colorful and fun clothes! On the runway it was the same – from classic to colorful and crazy! Lep Luss’ line, designed by Seiji Igeta and Yoshiko Kato really wowed me with a deep v-neck classic black dress – with the v-neck ending low under the bust line. Simple pants and blouse outfit was rendered stunning with the simple pants being gold with a high-waist band and the blouse being a classy basic black with a very soft line. It was truly subtle feminine sexuality in a masculine basic. I think it’s the imperfections of the silk, which made these designs so alluring.

The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), a non-profit government related organization, which promotes trade and investment between Japan and the rest of the world, organized this event. They’re taken their Japan Fashion Week in Tokyo on the road to New York. Their efforts to promote Tokyo as a fashion center comparable to New York, Paris or Milan hasn’t quite become a reality — yet. But who cares – we New Yorkers, who haven’t got the time to go to Tokyo will just have to suffer and see more fabulous fashion from Japanese designers on our own turf. Life is tough!

Designers Hokuto Katusi and Nao Yagi of mintdesigns gave us a look at colorful, kookie clothes with models donning what looked like fossils of pre-historic animals on their heads for hats! Ylang Ylang’s Ryunosuke Aoyagi had models fluttering the runway with lots of ruffles and free flowing goddess-like gowns.
The runway models were a reflection of the world village – Asian, Black, White – everybody. It was “We are the World” beauty and fashion. “New York already has so much culture,” said Kristin Ratcliffe, one of the models in the show. “This lineup just brings a different edge.