Japan has always been a major player in fashion ever since the trio of Yohji Yamamoto, Rei Kawakubo, and Issey Miyake made tidal waves with their avant-garde aesthetic in the 80’s. The big 3 broke conventional norms and introduced a new type of creativity that put Japan on the fashion map. In the early 2000’s we saw the uprising of Undercover and Number (N)ine, two street wear oriented labels who have cultivated a unique presence on the runway. Now, most recently, two menswear labels will soon join their ranks – Attachment and Julius. Both labels are very dark and very street, almost like something out of an Ann Rice novel.

Attachment by Kazuyuki Kumagai is perhaps my favourite out of the two as it has more of a practical structured look that includes well-tailored blazers, long jackets, and trousers. Julius in contrast, has a very loose and drapey silhouette that coincides very well with its post-apocalyptic aesthetic. Common to both labels are shirts and pants that twist around your body, giving any outfit a nice stylistic edginess that is usually hard to achieve.

Attachment started showing in Paris this past season (check out the runway video here!), and Julius will begin showing during the next. Land of the rising sun indeed!

> images courtesy of julius-garden.jp and attachment.co.jp