Rakuten Fashion Week TOKYO 2025 A/W 3/19(Wed.) Day 3 Report
Rakuten Fashion Week TOKYO (Rakuten FWT) 2025 A/W (organized by Japan Fashion Week Organization (JFWO)) entered its third day today. Here are the highlights of the third day, including brands that presented the night before.
– Brands that presented on Tuesday 3/18 –
VIVIANO (19:30-) Yebisu Garden Place
A shock like being struck by lightning, this is how love at first sight is sometimes described. Viviano’s theme for this season is “Colpo di Fulmine,” an Italian phrase that means “a direct hit of lightning,” which is used to describe love at first sight.
The creations expressed emotions that were true to the theme. Beautiful, lovely, cute, gorgeous, and exciting. The Viviano world unfolded as materials were selected, shapes were created, and colors were layered with these feelings in mind. Vintage-like lace woven on a 60s loom was made into a negligee-like dress. Ribbon ties were left twisted and limp, creating free-form shapes. The rose motif that was applied three-dimensionally last season was remodeled this season with papercut-like details. The three bouquet-like dresses that condensed the theme were the finale, creating a beautiful thunderstorm in the venue.
Brands that presented today, Wednesday 3/19 –
pays des fées (14:00～) Koishikawa Hospital
Designer Lim Asafuji collaborated with the work of Junji Ito, a horror manga artist whom she has admired since she was a young girl. The collection focused on his masterpiece, “Tomie,” depicting the mysterious horror and the beauty that lies beneath it. The main character, Tomie, is an unparalleled beauty who can regenerate and split from even a single drop of blood. Items featured depicted graphics evoking the image of Tomie splitting into two, as well as items with a motif from another of Ito’s works, “Ice Cream Bus.” All of the runway models appeared with “Tomie-style” hair.
The author, Junji Ito, also attended the event. When asked how he felt seeing the runway for the first time, he said, “I was overwhelmed. It gave me the motivation to draw new works in the future,” to which Ms. Asafuji smiled like a little girl.
tokio (15:30～) Spiral Hall (Spiral 3F)
tokio, winner of the TOKYO FASHION AWARD 2025, thrilled the audience with a powerful performance backed by a live band and live painting. The show featured unusual tweed sets consisting of jackets and cargo pants as well as striking camouflage-style graphics created by Ao, an artist and friend of designer Kimura and was also in charge of the live painting. Kimura remarked that, “The jumbled world view is what makes the tokio brand unique,” which is why the show featured chaotic looks with a pop feel. The theme of the collection was “I’m a stranger.”
During the interview, surrounded by many reporters and friends, he showed no signs of nervousness and answered the questions with a smile from start to finish. When asked about his reaction to the exhibition in Paris and his first runway show, he answered very honestly, starting with a, “Well, to be totally honest…”, which made the reporters smile. It was a runway debut that served as both a thank you to those who came and an introduction to the brand.
tiit tokyo (17:00～) TODA Hall & Conference Tokyo Hall A
Inspired by the Danish film “When Animals Dream,” this season’s collection had a melancholic yet emotional mood. The mysteriousness of horror movies and the beautiful scenery of Scandinavia were expressed through textiles and color palettes. The small floral pattern set-up, which seemed to embody fleeting pure love, the satin blouson that shone in the moonlight, and the jacket and shorts layered with lace seemed to represent the feelings of a girl who hides her excitement within a gloomy emotion.
The brand’s signature sensual and light layered styles reflected the overlapping and shifting of various emotions. The “blood” used symbolically in the film was incorporated as bright red beads in lip-shaped brooches, bandanas, necklaces, and other items.
The final runway of the day was decorated by Paul Smith (by R) (19:00～)Tokyo National Museum Hyokeikan
Paul Smith held a runway show in Tokyo as part of “by R,” a project to empower the Japanese fashion scene. Paul Smith himself visited Japan and made an appearance after the show.
Today’s much-anticipated show can be viewed on the website below.
More details will be provided in tomorrow’s report.
A special taxi video ad is currently being distributed for the first time.
Rakuten FWT’s first cab video advertising is being distributed in some cabs in the Tokyo area until Sunday, March 23rd. In the video, we interviewed two designers about the highlights of this season. The video was produced by Shunsuke Okabe, editor and director of “CARTE BLANCHE.” Please watch the video with sound when you see it on the move.
MY RUNWAY conveys the realism of Fashion Week
“MY RUNWAY” is a project that conveys the charm of fashion week by photographing the shows, the atmosphere at the venue, and the visitors. This season, two up-and-coming photographers are capturing the charm of Fashion Week from their own unique perspective. Mitograph will be photographing the stylish visitors, while Shun Komiyama will be photographing the shows. Photos will be posted regularly on Rakuten FWT’s official Instagram (@rakutenfwt), so be sure to check it out.
Suntory’s Ballantine whiskey highballs distributed
(Spiral Hall)
Highballs made with Suntory’s “Ballantine” whiskey are being distributed at runway events held at official venues (Spiral Hall, TODA Hall & Conference Tokyo Hall A/B). Please enjoy Fashion Week with a delicious drink.
BMW Japan provides a show car
BMW Japan has returned this season as well to provide a special show car. The show car carrying VIPs from abroad will be touring the Fashion Week venues.
* All photographs with some exception are property of ©JFWO
