Japanese Identity: The Kimono Designs of Miyake, Youth Clothing, and Architecture
Number of pages:
9
ABSTRACT:
This is a 9 page paper discussing the modern Japanese identity in relation to fashion and architecture. The modern Japanese identity is highly unique in its combination of the traditional and the “unfettered” modern and often mismatched. Examples of this can be found in the fashions of Issey Miyake and his contemporaries, the fashion selections and manipulations of the Japanese youth and modern Japanese architecture. Regardless of the industry however, a high level of craftsmanship, consistent with Japanese tradition, can be found. Miyake took the traditional and customized kimono and fashioned it for the flexible, international and mass produced market while at the same time defying modern day techniques of conforming the clothing to the contour of the body thus allowing the kimono to still be worn by all women of all body shapes; not usually considered in today’s fashion market. The Japanese youths of today also make their clothing distinct from that of Western countries by taking Western fashions and clothing and combining or manipulating the clothing to develop a modern and mismatched style. The clothing although often appearing vintage or aged is actually extremely high priced and carefully planned. Similarly in modern Japanese architecture, elements of the traditional can still be seen in religious areas such as Kyoto whereas modern urban areas such as Toyko have modern buildings which often combine traditional elements with modern elements which appear to be mismatched but are actually well planned and reflect the freedom of craftsmanship of the architect.
Bibliography lists 7 sources.
FILE NAME:
File: D0_TJkimon1.rtf
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