Japanese designer Yasuko Furuta of Toga mixes it up with vintage
For many years, Japanese high fashion has been associated with the dark, conceptual designs of Rei Kawakubo and Yohji Yamamoto. However, this is set to change thanks to designers such as Yasuko Furuta, the woman behind hip label Toga.
Her brand is helping redefine Japanese fashion for a whole new generation thanks to her urban, multilayered silhouettes and couture fabrics.
I hate fast fashion. I like clothes that are treasured and kept forever
"I am not avant-garde - my clothes are about being comfortable. Many traditional Japanese designers choose not to expose a woman's sexuality, but I want to inject sexiness into my clothes. I want to embrace femininity and play with it," she says.
Furuta was recently in Hong Kong to unveil her latest autumn-winter collection and launch a Toga pop-up store at Joyce in Pacific Place. The space, which is open until September 30, also houses a selection of vintage clothes. Hand-picked by the designer, they include two-tone faux fur jackets, glittery sweaters and 1950s-style knits.
"Normally, I don't wear one look or brand. I like to mix Toga with vintage items and create my own style.
"I opened the store because I wanted to show our customers how they could mix vintage pieces with our clothes and use fashion as a form of personal expression and freedom."