Ace Creation Brings Neo Couture to Tokyo

After a week of back to back runways, presentations and pop-up stores held in honor of Tokyo Fashion Week, designers Naoshi Sawayanagi and Taisuke Koji of the label ACE CREATION wrapped up the festivities with a solid finish.

While the brand was only launched earlier this year, the designers have already established themselves as ones to watch in the industry. Sawayanagi debuted in Tokyo and has successfully entered the international market with shows in Paris and New York. Koji holds the title of Japan Fashion Week’s New Designer Fashion Grand Prix and has also shown his collections in London and Vancouver.

ACE CREATION is a harmonious blend of both designer’s experiences and talent. According to the label’s mission statement, ‘Neo Couture’ is the overarching theme and the label strives to develop a haute couture system in Paris in Japan. Despite the mission statement, however, the clothes shown in their Spring/Summer 2016 collection had a commercial appeal and was decidedly wearable.

The show opened with a robotic host––fitting with the brand’s mission of combining new technology and storytelling in their designs––and a blacked out room soundtracked by bass-heavy audio. It lasted long enough to make most audience members slightly nervous, and I even heard some showgoers whispering “kowai”, or scary in Japanese.

The dramatic opening gave way to pristine clothing tailored to suit the 21st century woman that ACE CREATION was clearly thinking about with their garments. Suit sets were given a modern twist with layering both in garment and in textile, with the multi-layer skirts standing out of the collection. Pleated detailing made up the backbone of the collection, as seen down the center of dresses and shirts and even all over in a lace suit. And not to be missed were the haute couture influences that the label has set itself apart with. Asymmetric cuts, tailor-made garments and billowing proportions elevated the otherwise wearable collection.

Sawayanagi and Koji’s consideration for detail was apparent from start to finish. While there may have been a slight disconnect between the brand’s mission and the runway, the collection was cohesive and left a lasting impression. Overall, a solid finish to Tokyo Fashion Week.

For more information about ACE CREATION, visit their official site here.