New York-based designer Cynthia Rowley celebrated her brand's 10th year in Japan with a special talk show and cocktail dinner for VIP guests during Tokyo Fashion Week. The Barrington, Illinois, native's name has long been on the lips of American sportswear fans with her bright and feminine takes on casual-to-cocktail-style clothing. In Japan, the "Rowley girl" is extra sweet but could be concealing a little bit more edge. Rowley spoke to The Japan Times from her flagship boutique in Tokyo's trendy Aoyama district.
"In New York we see ourselves as being quite edgy," she says motioning toward a mannequin that is wearing a hollowed-out bangle that doubles as a flask. "So I'd like to see that come back here. I'm pushing it!"
In the 10 years she has had a presence here, Rowley says she has visited Japan often but never gets used to it.