Official Obscure High-End Japanese Trends You're Not Cool Enough For Megathread

While there are plenty of obscure high end Japanese trends most of us aren't cool enough for, this thread is specifically for one that is currently taking over the hearts of a subset of SW&D. I'm talking of course about all these fun crazy-pattern-based designers that would make even the most advanced MC pattern matchers cry uncle. Anything goes here - tribal, tartan, abstract - doesn't matter just post it up if you see something cool. I realize I mention specifically these "pattern-based" designers but there is room for everything here, particularly anything that involves playful or interesting twists on classic menswear/americana/heritage/tech.

Post up collections, inspirations, street style, stuff you see for sale on regular retailers or Rakuten/Y!J, news on US/CA/EU retailers carrying these collections, whatever you think is cool and relevant. I can imagine some mountaineering influenced stuff (think some Nonnative, North Face Purple Label) making it's way in here, as well as some techy stuff (Undercoverisms tech) and AmericanaRedux (think Junya or EG's more out-there offerings). No rules just fun clothes!

Very soon I'll be updating this OP with some good external resources, but right now my favorite by far is Jamesy. He posts a combination of collections and individual pieces for sale typically, but there is plenty out there he is missing and we can find it! I only include this today without having my full list ready because I feel his blog is very in-tune with what I imagine this thread will be, and to get things rolling.

Some designers to keep an eye out for, with SF darlings at the top leading into the more obscure stuff:

Junya Watanabe
White Mountaineering
SasquashFABRIX
Needles (Part of Nepenthes)
Nanamica Manastash (US based although not available domestically)
Phenomenon
Is-Ness
Wacko Maria
Rehacer
Facetasm
Fumito Ganryu (ex pattern designer for Junya)

Space reserved for: Blogs: Jamesy Stores: Arknets

Some miscellaneous things that have inspired me lately: Drummer from Can (ca. 1974)

Miharayasuhiro SS '12



Facetasm FW '11

Unknown

Remi Relief (probably my favorite label that I don't wear, more along the lines of a crunchy Nonnative meets woodstock revival sort of look. Everything soft, vintage looking, etc. Not pattern crazy or technical like some of the other brands, just want to show there is room for everything here)

^ Excellent, I hadn't heard of Facetasm before but it looks nice. I'm in the market for a new backpack (mine has developed a few holes after ~5 years of steady use), thinking about getting one of these north face purple labels: I would probably remove the north face patch. And some random images that might be relevant to the thread:

and I know it isn't as pattern crazy as the other stuff listed in the OP, but I feel like Kolor fits pretty well with this look. It's designed by Junichi Abe, who iirc worked for Junya for a while before starting it. Some f/w 11 looks:

^ Some really nice stuff, that guy with the glasses' undercoverism bag is insane. I had no idea they made one with that pattern. This was always my favorite NFPL backpack, and I found one on Rakuten and linked it Edit: Yeah I really love Kolor as well, it's always amazing. Too expensive for me to build a wardrobe like that though. Although the other day there was a Nuur blazer in this super lightweight light brown gauzy material on super sale that made me want to go for it... Another great bohemian type label that is sort of in between Kolor and the Remi Relief stuff and even 45RPM is Kapital:

THIS IS SO GOOD WOW i love patterns but my clothes aren't "high-end"

Very cool idea for a thread. Will be back with some images to contribute in a few. Am I allowed to post some stuff from Nigerian/African designers?

Originally Posted by Uncontrol

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i love patterns but my clothes aren't "high-end"

Post it up anyway! I just wanted to play on the forum description for SW&D since most of what gets thrown around here are in fact, high-end Japanese trends. Just like Missoni could also fit in here even though it's not Japanese, so could some Peruvian socks you got on eBay for $0.99. Ultimately I just wanted a place to post stuff I like without clogging up RFT

Originally Posted by Ivwri

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Very cool idea for a thread. Will be back with some images to contribute in a few. Am I allowed to post some stuff from Nigerian/African designers?
Of course! Straight from the source man, this is what a good discussion forum is all about. edit: Seriously, check out what you can find on eBay for cheap: ALPACAS

I'm going to love this thread. Was just about to post Kolor and Sacai.


Kolor



Sacai

Originally Posted by A Fellow Linguist

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I'm in the market for a new backpack (mine has developed a few holes after ~5 years of steady use), thinking about getting one of these north face purple labels: http://www.nanamica.com/shopping/upl...77166e7f15.jpg http://www.nanamica.com/shopping/upl...7717941ab9.jpg
I am trying and failing to imagine anyone wearing either of those granny-floral-couch-fabric backpacks -- with or without the purple label -- and not looking like some kind of pederast-******. You'd have to be >80 or <16 to walk around with one of those, and female in either case.

Originally Posted by tween_spirit

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This was always my favorite NFPL backpack, and I found one on Rakuten and linked it

http://i.imgur.com/92wSN.jpg
Still not my style, but at least this one looks like someone (maybe even someone with a Y chromosome) could use it and not look like a complete joke.

Originally Posted by tween_spirit

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Another great bohemian type label that is sort of in between Kolor and the Remi Relief stuff and even 45RPM is Kapital: http://i.imgur.com/2RdPA.jpg
Really neat use of colour.

Originally Posted by Uncontrol

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http://i.imgur.com/uxoJh.jpg THIS IS SO GOOD WOW
+1

went through the jamesy blog: these sandals are great! http://jamesrmcnally.com/2011/07/is-...al/#more-12506 sunny sports? why havent i seen these at context!?! i would rock these givenchy style http://jamesrmcnally.com/2011/07/sun...ts/#more-12541

Originally Posted by GoldenTribe

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I am trying and failing to imagine anyone wearing either of those granny-floral-couch-fabric backpacks -- with or without the purple label -- and not looking like some kind of pederast-******. You'd have to be >80 or <16 to walk around with one of those, and female in either case.


Still not my style, but at least this one looks like someone (maybe even someone with a Y chromosome) could use it and not look like a complete joke.

Pedarast-******/complete joke is not a valid aesthetic direction?

Hey Sipang, do you know the season of that fair isle Kolor jacket? My sweater has the same pattern, but I don't know when it's from.

^ Fall 08 it says More bags NFPL Nanamica

Nigerian (Urhobo tribe) traditional wear -




Sorry for crappy photos. Very difficult getting anything online of this :/.


Miharayasuhiro -





Burberry Prorsum -





U.MI-1 (Nigerian designer based in Tokyo)




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And finally, just because - Shine Shine