Inspiring Invention: 'Future Beauty'

So last week Chris and I finally managed to get our bums down to the exhibition 'Future Beauty: 30 years of Japanese Fashion', on at the Barbican. I got immensely excited about this show as soon as I heard about it (Japanese stuff + cutting edge, innovative fashion = *hearts*!). I already knew about the Japanese fashion master Issey Miyake, but going to this show totally opened up my eyes to other amazing creative stuff going on in this country. Below are some of my particular favourites from the show - illustrated either by images pilfered from the net (I obeyed the show's sign not to take photos!!), or my expressive/stylish/indecipherable (delete as appropriate!) sketches.

Koji Tatsuno - 'Golden Brown of nylon net dress', A/W 1993-94

(image from http://www.barbican.org.uk)

I took one look at this dress and thought 'oh my word, that is made entirely out of crinoline??!' (for non-hat geeks out there, this is a springy, synthetic net material that is used loads in fascinators). It was amazing in its 'voluminous flounces' as the exhibition info described it:)

Tao Kurihara / Tao Comme Des Garçons

(from the sketchbook)

I loved the pleated skirt on this dress by Kurihara. It was entirely made from white kraft paper (interesting material use is always a winner in my book) and had an immense amount of pleating detail.

Hiroki Ohya – 'The Wizard of Jeanz. Vol 17/18', S/S 2000

(images of 'books' from 'I Strut Therefore I am' blog)

This had a really impressive sculptural, honeycomb structure going on. The idea behind this piece was fantastic too – the outfit starts out as the books pictured above! They then open out into honeycomb structures around the body. Such an awesome and creative idea.
Another designer at the show, Junya Watanabe, also used honeycomb structures to create three-dimensional, sculptural dresses. Apparently (according to the exhibition info) this complex, structural style was possible thanks to the polyester the dresses were made from. It's one of few fabrics stiff enough to hold the shape. A useful techie note I think I'll be bearing in mind for future designs!

Jun Takahashi / Undercover, S/S 2007

(image from Style.com)

From a distance this dress just oozed a little 20's flapper style, but closer inspection revealed overlapping skulls made of cut out red fabric. The little goth/rock chick in me liked!

Yohji Yamamoto, S/S 1998

(from the sketchbook)

Yamamoto's outfits breathed sophisticated style. Chris' favourite of the evening, there were a lot of simple yet totally effective and unique ideas here. I was particularly drawn to the white silk-wool satin dress I've doodled above. The swiggly bits are twisted fabric – so simple, yet looked so elegant and different!

The exhibition also taught us a very cool Japanese phrase:

wabi-sabi

It means beauty in the imperfect. Isn't it a great phrase? (and rather refreshing for the image conscious times we live in!).

The exhibition is still on until 6th February, so you've got time, I def recommend nipping in quick before it finishes! If you do miss it or live outside London, a scour on the internet/popping in a bookshop/hopping on the next plane to Japan to see some of these designers beautiful creations is definitely worthwhile.