Japs have always been noted for their inimitable style from the extreme outright wacky to minimalist chic. They wear fashion with a big bold statement, and more importantly, they dress for themselves and not because some style magazine or shop window has told them what to wear or look like. Individualism is key and I admire their adoption of the philosophy "I'll wear what I want, so if you don't like it, your loss", which makes for an outfit that they pull off with equal amounts of both style and attitude!
Yes, we've all witnessed some stark fashions adorned by Japanese girls and women, but it is Japanese men who are often overlooked in the style stakes as a result. In my eyes, Japanese men are often some of the best dressed. As a girl I've always loved the likes of Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto and Comme des Garçons
, but they truly shine as menswear designers too. So for all you dapper dressing males out there who are influenced by Japanese designers and fashion, there's another guy on the scene worth checking out, Hiroshi Awai.
The Toronto-based director and Head Designer of CREEP clothing, Hiroshi combines innovative Japanese design with the simple functionality of American workwear. Check out his autumn/winter range...
