Japanese street style: Japanese Lolita
The Japanese Lolita look differs from its better-known Sweet, Gothic and Punk counterparts because its starting point is native rather than foreign dress traditions. At one end of the spectrum there is the demure kimono look explored by designers such as Mamechiyo Modern. At the opposite end there are the over-the-top creations of designers like Takuya Angel, for whom samurai armour and ideas of machismo are the main points of departure.
Japanese Lolita - detail of obi
Takuya Angel
Takuya Angel was established in 1995 by the self-taught designer, DJ and musician Takuya Sawada. Sawada makes all of his outfits himself, working at a sewing machine in a small second-floor shop in the heart of Harajuku. Much of his clothing incorporates recycled kimono fabric, of which he has built up a large collection.
Mamechiyo Modern
Mamechiyo of Mamechiyo Modern spent several years dealing in vintage kimono before establishing her own label in 2003. She has set out to reinvent the kimono as an affordable, everyday form of clothing, and to experiment with the incorporation of non-Japanese elements such as the headdress, choker and decorative lace collar that can be seen on the outfit displayed here.
A gift in your will
You may not have thought of including a gift to a museum in your will, but the V&A is a charity and legacies form an important source of funding for our work. It is not just the great collectors and the wealthy who leave legacies to the V&A. Legacies of all sizes, large and small, make a real difference to what we can do and your support can help ensure that future generations enjoy the V&A as much as you have.
MoreShop online
Cycle Chic (Hardcover)
Moving beyond lycra: the latest trends in street style and the return to style on wheels. The efficiency of getting around by bike has made cycling a…
Buy nowEvent - BSL Talks: Japanese Enamels
Fri 28 June 2013 18:30
BSL TOUR: Join Chisato Minamimuro as she talks about the diverse range of Japanese Enamels in the V&A collection.
Book online
