Tokyo Fashion Express

Tokyo men's fashion is turning heads around the world with its anything-goes take on street culture. We dive in to see what unique men's looks have taken root in the busy metropolis.

Trend watchers in fashion are taking notice of a few interesting items coming out of local town factories around Japan. Many of these local factories have supported Japanese manufacturing for decades, even centuries, with their unique skillsets and techniques. But with a turbulent economy in rapidly-changing times, many struggle to stay afloat. We visit a few factories that are stepping out in the world of fashion in an effort to survive in a digitized world.

Digital natives are going wild for designer Hachi's clothes, which appear to have emerged from the two-dimensional world of anime and manga. Extreme volume, inventive forms and eye-catching graphics are central to his designs, and gray is his color of choice. The designer believes the hue captures the chaotic mix of elements Tokyo is known for.

Meet a designer with not one, but two careers to her name. Dr. Maaya is a fashion designer and neurosurgeon who began her design career in 2013. Five years later, we join her for the opening of her very own shop.

The eastern region of Tokyo, called "Higashi Tokyo", has long been home to numerous makers' studios and factories. Recently, a web-based project named "Higashi Tokyo Makers Row" has been shedding new light on the area and its once-robust makers' community. Artisans and companies are bringing their masterful skills together to collaborate on refreshing new products that appeal to a modern world. Currently in its third year, the project has grown to include twenty-four companies. In this episode, we focus on craftspeople introducing new fashion items.

It's time for the 2018 Spring/Summer Trend Forecast! From New York, Milan and Paris, the word on the street is that "Playful" is in. From the playful mix of bold motifs and colors on the runway to this season's hot hues (pink and yellow), see how to brighten up your wardrobe this season. If you've got your eyes on light-hearted tees and shorts, you're on the right track!

Join new host Harry Sugiyama as he introduces two Japanese brands in pursuit of "ultimate comfort". How do they achieve such luxurious ease? One factory brand develops its own thread from scratch, while the other applies some fascinating technology. Harry gives you an inside look at the brands, trying on the much-discussed items in person.

Designer Miya Nishiyama's mission is to create garments entirely by hand, around the concept "kawaii clothes for the everyday". She likens the clothes-making process to cooking, freely mixing and matching materials before her like one might whip up a meal. Her emphasis lies on producing special "one-and-only" numbers for her customers.

It's that time of year again…are you ready for Fashion Week Tokyo? Host Harry Sugiyama interviews three gifted designers sharing their take on Tokyo style. See what they've got to offer the wonderful world of fashion.

Designer Keisuke Yoshida is unafraid of change. A few seasons ago, during the 2016 Spring/Summer Fashion Week Tokyo, he caused a stir on the runway with what became known as the "Gamer Look". It was as if a video game-loving teenager had wandered onto the catwalk, and the look spread like social media wildfire. The portrayal of "regular" kids in a swank mode setting offered up a new approach to fashion. Not one to lean on past praise, however, Yoshida stunned fashion insiders the following year, in the 2017 Spring/Summer season, with an abrupt shift to mode clothing. Meet the powerful mind behind the unassuming smile and hear his refreshing take on the role of fashion.

The brand KUON, launched by Arata Fujiwara in 2015 with the wish to share Japanese garment techniques with a global audience, incorporates quality craftsmanship from around the country. He and brand designer Shinichiro Ishibashi, long-time pattern-maker for popular brand kolor, won the Tokyo Fashion Award in October 2017 for clothes that are both stylish and socially conscious. The pair made their Tokyo Collection debut with the brand this past March.

Designer Shunsuke Koike shines a light on the traditional weaving craft chirimen, a specialty of the Tango region in Kyoto.

Fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto has broken all convention with his nonconformist collections, influencing the global fashion industry since the 1970s. His creed to "refute mode through mode" continues today, as he broadens his scope of powerful expression.

There's a denim brand in Japan that has no store. Rather, it sells its jeans out of a traveling RV. The co-founders of the venture are brothers Yohei Yamawaki (age 25) and Shunsuke Shimada (age 23), whose mission is to share the craftsmanship of little-known denim artisans with customers around the nation. By connecting denim factories with enthusiastic consumers via face-to-face sales, they hope to preserve the skills and techniques of factories that have elevated "Japan quality" around the world.

Shinya Miyaura may very well be the most knowledgeable person in Japan when it comes to the current state of the Japanese textile industry. His job is to connect artisans of local production regions around the country – he visits nearly 200 factories annually - with fashion designers seeking rare and unique textiles.