Yukihero Pro-Wrestling RTW Spring 2017
Leave it to Yukihiro Teshima to inject some much-needed fun and humor into Tokyo Fashion Week. The designer, who once had aspirations to become a professional wrestler, concocted an elaborate story about a band of female cats who become human for eight days between the new and quarter moon phases. He then cast the J-pop girl group Yumemiru Adolescence to play the cats-turned-humans in a short musical production. The runway show was wedged between two upbeat songs performed live by the group.
Teshima themed his collection “Cats in Heels,” and in addition to felines, he drew inspiration from the art of Andy Warhol. He used a take on the artist’s Campbell’s Soup cans on everything from sweet, Sixties-inspired dresses to casual shorts and a men’s relaxed-fit suit. His female models were living representations of the Marilyn Monroe work, complete with brightly colored wigs and makeup and even the famous mole.
Other allover prints included cats in sunglasses, camouflage, leopard, wrestling masks and the Japanese stuffed toy and anime character Monchhichi. These were splashed across T-shirts, short-sleeved shirts, above-the-knee shorts and more. Another interesting look was a pair of baggy, cuffed pants and a long-sleeved T-shirt with banana appliqués, peeling slightly away to reveal images of wrestlers underneath.
Between the music and dancing and the Pop Art prints, the show created not just a spectacle but also a contagious energy that was uniquely Japanese. This is how shows during Tokyo Fashion Week should be.
Launch Gallery: Yukihero Pro-Wrestling x Yumemiru Adolescence RTW Spring 2017
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