In Tokyo, Fashion is Genderless
Young people in Japan are increasingly playing with the conventions of clothing, transcending the boundaries of gender.
![](https://pen-online.com/fr/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/09111959/46889984_1776912102420371_4606692217152000966_n-1024x1024.jpg)
Instagram: ryuzi33world929
Certain Japanese designers showcase unisex pieces to break down the barriers of heteronormative fashion. These values are notably promoted by Yohji Yamamoto and Rei Kawakubo in their collections, and indeed have been since the 1980s.
Today, western fashion has a tendency to twist archetypes, and in Tokyo, it has been genderless for several years now. In a report, I-D magazine asked young Tokyoites about their style and vision of fashion. All of those questioned were unanimous in their response: everyone is now free to dress as they wish. They also noted a rise in men adopting kawaii fashion with growing ease thanks to the increasing presence of feminine style in Japanese men’s fashion.
Japanese men are no longer afraid to wear skirts, skinny jeans and make-up and to mix up their colour palette. Women, meanwhile, wear suits, juxtapose different garments or wear much looser cuts which are often reserved for men. Some individuals may still observe this with a judgemental eye, but the fear of appearing vulgar is gradually fading. This eradication of gender leads young people in Japan to wear outfits that reflect their personality and that inspire their western counterparts.
View this post on Instagram
TRENDING
-
Ishiuchi Miyako, A Singular Perspective on Women
Recipient of the 2024 Women in Motion Award, the photographer creates intimate portraits of women through the objects they left behind.
-
Recipe for Ichiraku Ramen from ‘Naruto’ by Danielle Baghernejad
Taken from the popular manga with the character of the same name who loves ramen, this dish is named after the hero's favourite restaurant.
-
Namio Harukawa, Master of Japanese SM Art
'Garden of Domina' offers a dive into the world of an icon of ‘oshiri’, whose work has now reached a global audience.
-
The Tattoos that Marked the Criminals of the Edo Period
Traditional tattoos were strong signifiers; murderers had head tattoos, while theft might result in an arm tattoo.
-
The Emperor of Japanese Porn is Now the Star of a Netflix Series
Deliciously funny, The Naked Director especially succeeds in reviving the atmosphere that was so characteristic of 1980s Japan.