With a focus on reviving Japan’s declining textile industry, the Issey Miyake-trained designer Mame is readying to show her next collection during Paris Fashion Week.

With garments spelling ‘I Want to Die’ and accessories like syringes and bandages, a dark offshoot of the oppressively cute ‘kawaii’ culture is addressing the hush-hush topic of depression and mental illness in Japan.  

Fashion week in Japan leaves outsiders feeling both highly impressed and highly frustrated, as many talented designers seem uninterested in doing business abroad.

At the close of Tokyo Fashion Week, BoF shines a light on the enigmatic stylists shaping how the world sees Japanese fashion.

Japan’s Bunka Fashion College has produced some of the world’s most celebrated avant-garde designers, from Yohji Yamamoto to Junya Watanabe. BoF uncovers the school’s unique approach to fashion education.