Tags
accessories, autumn/winter 2015, avant garde fashion, black/white colour theme, brogues, Junya Watanabe, menswear- s/s 2016, structural clothing, structural hats, studded brogues, womenswear- a/w 2015
Japanese avant garde designer
is an innovative voice in the chorus of fashion design.
Educated at famed Bunka Fashion College in Tokyo (graduated, 1984);
mentored by designer, Rei Kawakubo (Comme Des Garçons);
in 1993, he launched his own line under the Commed Des Garçon umbrella-
Junya Watanabe Comme Des Garçons.
His menswear and womenswear collections regularly challenge
accepted aesthetic norms with unexpected design interpretives.
…
Not without his share of controversy,
his menswear collection for s/s 2016 came under intense
scrutiny, discussion, query:
use of only Caucasian models in preppy dress
and with African inspired textiles / accessories.
Was it willful “cultural appropriation”;
pointed commentary on colonialism-
a bit of both?
Was it singularly a bit of expressed disappointment by fashion-watchers
for the lack of model diversity in the runway representation? –
a bit of all of the above?
…
Junya Watanabe
Menswear, s / s 2016
(images from style.com):
…
For his womenswear collection, a / w 2016
Mr. Watanabe embarked on another design direction:
Origami inspired folds and pleats
Honeycomb fabric feature
B / W (black / white colour story)
Sculptural
Compelling headwear
Studded brogues
…
Junya Watanabe
Womenswear, a / w 2016
…