Japanese Fashion

From Kenzo to Rei Kawakubo, via Yohji Yamamoto and Issey Miyake, Japan's most celebrated designers have had a profound influence on global fashion. But beyond the photography shoots and catwalks, Japan also has a rich history in garment design: discreet, beautifully crafted and rooted in everyday life.

This wide panorama explores the art of selvedge denim, indigo dyeing and traditional motifs, as well as the country's iconic school uniforms, rebellious street styles and salarymen suits. It reveals how Japanese fashion and its unique aesthetic has impacted Western fashion and won aficionados worldwide. It illuminates the relationship between culture and dress, from the kimonos and prints to the costumes worn for traditional performing arts or the silhouettes that define Japanese cinema.

Japanese Fashion asks what clothes tell us about the society that wears them. It invites us to look beyond labels and uncover the very fabric of Japanese fashion.

Featuring an exclusive foreword by Professor Shin Asahi, Bunka Fashion College.

About the Author

Clémence Leleu is a freelance journalist specialized in Japanese culture and society. She works for Arte and French lifestyle magazines such as Pen and Tempura. She is the author of the French title Japan Cantina, which has sold internationally in several languages.