An exclusive portfolio of behind-the-scenes images from the collections of A Magazine Curated By guest-curators Iris Van Herpen, Thom Browne and Giambattista Valli.
Tokyo AW2021-22
Watanabe-san’s Glam Rock Girls
by Arieh Rosen & Noam Levinger
Junya Watanabe AW2021-22, Tokyo
Junya Watanabe unveiled his AW2021-22 women’s collection at the waterfront Toyosu Pit theatre in central Tokyo this week, set on a darkened stage for the imaginary concert of his favourite rock acts from The Who to Metallica, AC/DC and David Bowie. Christened ‘Immortal Rock Spirit’, the collection celebrated the brash androgyny of rockstars past, blowing out the proportions of Western archetypes from Levi’s denim, varsity jackets and dark tailoring into swooping silhouettes with a distinctly Japanese flair.
Beneath mohawk beanies, floppy berets, airbrushed leopard or Hello Kitty hairstyles, Watanabe’s singular talent for dissecting the familiar was on full display, with Gianni Versace’s curling rococo scarf prints panelled into blasted Levi’s denim skirts, jeans exploded into tailcoats, or ribbed cardigans cut up into sweater dresses.
Re-visiting the universal iconography of band graphics from the likes of The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith and Queen, Watanabe spliced merch tees with camo, tartan, floral and leopard prints to create oversized layered tunics tacked to pleather sleeves or strung with spikes and chains. Furthering his perennial narrative of fragmented tailoring, the collection culminated in a display of billowing coats inset with pleating and crisp schoolgirl shirts – gestures that elevated the DIY spirit of punks and glam rock stars through Watanabe-san’s precise intention and fluid line.
Photography by Arieh Rosen & Noam Levinger
Hello Kitty’s Yuko Yamaguchi at Junya Watanabe AW2021-22, Tokyo
The Toyosu Pit theatre, Tokyo
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May 13 – July 2, 2023 at the Renaissance Society, Chicago
At The Renaissance Society, Chicago, an untitled exhibition curated by the artist Shahryar Nashat and writer & curator Bruce Hainley simultaneously investigates the enigmatic relationships between image, perception, and the human body as a living or undead currency.
A MAGAZINE CURATED BY SACAI
The 25th issue of has been guest edited by Chitose Abe of the Japanese cult label sacai. As the first Japanese woman to curate an issue, Abe has called upon her inner circle of friends, family and artistic collaborators to contribute cultural and creative content across the 200 page magazine.