Akira Isogawa is delightful.
A softly spoken, gentle man – his humility as infectious as his giggle - and such is the awe I have for his creative talent that I always feel humbled when we meet.
During fashion week this year, Akira housed his showroom in the expansive Presidential Suite at Sydney's Shangri-La hotel (where I too, languished, though in slightly more pedestrian digs).
I headed up the evening before his show to preview his latest collection.
I said "no, no, don't put it on me – I'm all grotty and sticky from running around backstage all day" …
…Akira laughed..
..It felt beautiful on my skin.
The pieces are just so delicate.
Details paying homage to the spirits of ancient Japan
Akira explained the intricate patterns are created using the ancient Japanese tie-dye technique called shibori. The gathering in the fabric being part (and result) of the process. When the silk is gathered like this, it imbues an extra weightlessness and softness in the garment allowing the wearer to feel at one with the cloth.
It's very indulgent, but for all the right reasons.
(We are so used to conforming to looks that are uncomfortable because they flatter us, or worse still because they make us (ugh) 'on trend', that for clothing to look beautiful, and float as an ethereal part of us, is a luxury.)
Akira's spring/summer 2012-13 collection is divided into three;
The shibori,
the prints,
and the ivory dresses which he describes as not necessarily wedding dresses, "just ivory dresses". I'm with him on that. The ivory collection are simply too beautiful to be restricted to a once in a lifetime event!
You can view the collection in more detail with my images from the show.
Clearly inspired by ancient Japanese design, Akira told me the fabric itself was an influence. We went on to play 'spot the accesory motif in the print', with the beautiful beaded flower that came to life from the fabric.
It's such an organic way of creating, and I love it.
The tetherings of Akira's designs follow the same instructions – that is, to be modest (without clingyness, or flesh-flash), and yet be sexy on the wearer's body, with fall, and drape. The fabrics are what mould the designs, and it's here that I think Akira separates himself from the homogeneous followers of fashion. The design is not shape based, it flows from the fabric, from a cherry-blossomed homeland that is replete with ancient traditions and ancestral tales.
It is wearable art. With a soul. Akira's philosophy is about the craftsmanship of not just himself, but of all who have gone before, and that, I believe is the key to his talent.
See more from his collection here.
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