The womenswear showcased during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Tokyo marched to its own beat, with eye-opening collections coming from far-flung ends of the fashion spectrum. From stark minimalism to '80s idols, the collections delivered a pinata of fashion treats, and since the seasons change faster than you can say oshare (fashionable), let's jump right into the very best of the best.
Top-class brand Facetasm arguably delivered one of the most impressive show of the week, with designer Hiromichi Ochiai's penchant for mixing streetwear and kitsch with avant-garde flourishes akin to something Comme des Garcons is famous for producing. His collection utilized a wild assortment of items and accessories, including colorful toy necklaces and punchy sneakers alongside cascades of jewel-toned pleats. While some in the audience might have raised their eyebrows at the appearance of fur-backed T-shirts and rooster feather skirts on the runway, their concern should have evaporated by the addition of edgy Tokyo streetwear that bristled with attitude.
Sretsis, a Thailand-based brand that does camera-ready kawaii (cute) better than the youth in Tokyo, would take home the best in show award for the week without too much trouble. The collection was revealed in a presentation titled "Runaway Rum," a show inspired by roller derbies of the '80s complete with shiny helmets and boots that looked like cartoon rollerskates. Superstar models Yuka Mizuhara and Tina Tamashiro joined indie synth outfit Plasticzooms to deliver a show that truly rocked.