Shopping Guide
Tokyo Crazy Kawaii Paris, an event introducing the world of Japanese kawaii culture, will be held from Sept. 20–22 in Paris.
U Kimura, a popular amateur model for a Harajuku fashion magazine, is appointed as the ambassador of kawaii by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She also serves as a chief manager of public relations for the event. In addition to her role of PR activities, she will participate in workshops and appear as a runway model for a fashion show during the event period.
Artist ShojonoTomo, who handled the design of the official character of the event, will exhibit her installation titled “Kimono Fusion,” which she also exhibited at a museum in Sweden from 2009 to 2011. Julie Watai, a photographer who also works as an idol under the name Ai Amano, will attend the event as well. Her photo collection book from 2005 titled “Samurai Girl” sold over 1.2 million copies.
In the area of the event dubbed “Harajuku,” four brands will be introduced. ACDC Rag lines up apparel relating to pop, punk and dance, Avantgarde lines up selected legwear, Angelic Pretty introduces Lolita fashion, and MiCHi Mall sells nail chips catered toward overseas customers.
Tokyo Crazy Kawaii Paris is the first part of a project initiated to spread Japanese culture into lifestyles around the world. Paris has been chosen to be the first as France has the world’s second largest fanbase for comic books and is also known for hosting Japan Expo, Europe’s largest expo relating to Japanese anime and manga. Tokyo Crazy Kawaii Paris aims to introduce styles that are acknowledged as being kawaii by Japanese people themselves. To express a realistic side of Japan, city landscapes of Shibuya, Harajuku, Akihabara, and Ginza will be reproduced at the event space. Booths pertaining to fashion, music, gourmet, manga, anime, games, and characters will intermingle to create a 2.5 dimensional Tokyo.
Source: Fashion-Headline
Source article written by Nao Takita
