Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo

Style & Design | ON: FASHION Apr 9, 2022

Tokyo fashion week not as fashion-forward as hoped

by Samuel Thomas

Not even a who’s who of Japanese designers could overcome the uneven adoption of emerging tech at Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo.

Style & Design | ON: FASHION Sep 12, 2021

What makes virtual fashion shows work? Clever videos certainly help

by Samuel Thomas

With even big-name houses struggling for views, brands that abandoned the typical film format found the most success.

Style & Design | ON: FASHION Aug 15, 2021

Tokyo fashion week shifts its schedule, signaling Japan-focused approach

by Samuel Thomas

Rakuten seizes the opportunity to better appeal to a local clientele, while skateboarding style tops the Olympic podium.

Style & Design | ON: FASHION Jun 13, 2021

For new fashion events and collections, it’s all about the timing

by Samuel Thomas

Japan’s latest styles celebrate Pride Month (sort of), take fashion week to print and collaborate with vintage video games.

Style & Design | ON: FASHION Oct 11, 2020

Tokyo’s fashion weeks kick off live (and with precautions)

by Samuel Thomas

It’s business as usual, save for sparse seating and masks. But the streaming options mean this is the most accessible these events have ever been.

Style & Design Mar 30, 2020

Fashion week is compelled to go online

by Samuel Thomas

Japan's fashion industry was hit hard by the March cancellation of Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo, saved only by livestreaming and online content as a way to keep fans informed.

As the impact of COVID-19 leads to the postponement or cancelation of various fashion events, the industry faces a quandary — it is unseemly to focus on the relatively trivial business of style at a time of great concern?

Style & Design Sep 29, 2019

Tokyo's fashion week gets a Japan rebrand

by Samuel Thomas

As the new sponsor of Tokyo's fashion week, e-commerce giant Rakuten may appear lowbrow — but in times of rising subculture trends, that could work in its favor.