In the major fashion capitals, only the bravest of designers dare to push the envelope of a show beyond the conventional parade of models marching with their pouts and haughty glares along a catwalk. In Tokyo, though, while the clothes themselves may not match up to those gracing European runways, the labels showing them off excel at dreaming up wacky ways to present their creations.
Triptych
Staged in the impressive surroundings of Yodobashi Church, this collection was showcased to the sounds of a live band that included harpists, tablas, shamisen and a small choir. In sumptuous addition, besides turns by a mime artist, a belly dancer and models swinging censers, there was also a performance in which the movements of a contemporary dancer in a swan-inspired costume were captured on video, fed through a computer and projected as swirling pixels onto a giant screen behind her.
Potto
Models carried placards illustrating of their outfit's inspiration and, after walking the runway, attached them to the back wall, forming what ended up looking like an art display.
Soe
Inspired by the character Pluto from the Astroboy cartoon series, designer Soichiro Ito kicked off his Soe show with a little boy walking on stage and opening large white double doors for a series of bizarrely made-up male models. The pointy-eared tyke then reappeared at the show's end to shut the door behind the cast.
Theatre Products
"Very Tokyo" design outfit Theatre Products called on the services of a brass and wind ensemble, which lined the stage and blasted out a high-tempo number as models showed off their cutesy creations.
Tokyo Ripper
Tokyo Ripper designer Hideaki Sato went to great lengths to re-create the feeling of a seaside stroll inside a cavernous photography studio in Tokyo's Ebisu. A film of waves lapping gently onto a beach was projected onto the sand-covered floor and white back wall, and as models walked out onto the artificial shore, a sound effect of feet splashing through waves matched their every step.
