It’s hard to compare the Japan of today to that of a few hundred years ago. What was once the land of cherry blossoms and sandal-wearing goldfish tenders, fearless fighting samurai and willowy kimono-clad geisha performing their charmingly precise dances is now a land of glittering skyscrapers, bullet trains, impeccably suited salary men and some of the world’s most outlandishly dressed women enjoying a night of cos-play under the bright lights and neon skies.
Although it may seem like two different worlds, there is one thing that the Japanese of yesteryear and today have in common, and that’s style. When they say something is “big in Japan” they mean it’s huge everywhere! Let’s take a dive into the Japanese fashions and styles making waves around the world this year.
JDM – The term JDM has come into popular parlance in recent years, and it refers to Japanese Domestic Market automobiles. These are special car models that were only available in Japan, and like so many things Japanese they are so charming and unique that everybody else wants them, too.
Now the term JDM has expanded to include not just the cars, but a wide range of accessories and clothing like the JDM hoodies that reflect a heavy influence of Japanese culture in their design elements, and accentuate the JDM car collector’s aesthetic. Bold combinations of black, silver, and red lend themselves perfectly to the heavy metal-inspired depictions of traditional mythic elements like Kabuki masks and samurai motifs.
Pastels And Metallics – Hearkening back to the ethereal dreams of ancient Edo’s water and willow world, these soft pastel shades make an intriguing counterpoint to the ultramodern metallic accents that dominate the fashion landscape in 2024.
Mint, lavender, rose blush, and pale blues are combined with the shimmer of silver and gold metallic fabrics to form a new kind of aesthetic that embodies traditional femininity while also looking squarely into the future’s bright shine.
Techwear – Given that Japan is a powerhouse of technological advances, it’s no surprise that the look and feel of electronics and machinery has become an integral part of this wildly popular Japanese street style.
These futuristic designs are fully functional, secret pockets contain batteries that can power the array of gadgetry that one wears rather than carries! Techwear tends to be constructed of sleek, black leather, and silver metallic fabrics, with lots of zippers and rings. This is urban fashion 21st-century style, and the future is now.
Designer Face Masks – In light of the recent troubles face masks have become a regular part of daily attire around the world. The thing is, they already were commonplace in the highly polluted Japanese cityscape, people have been protecting themselves with masks for years.
The difference now is, instead of looking like everybody walking down the street just exited a lengthy hospital stay, this new generation of masks feature eye-catching colours, logos, and designs that create a boldly individualistic fashion statement.
Australia’s Western Sydney University has published an article exploring the interesting effects that Japanese-Australian styles are having in the world of fashion. It may be a small island nation, but if it’s big in Japan it will eventually shake the world.
