Continuing J-Pop Summit tradition, the kawaii and colorful Harajuku fashion gets a spotlight during J-Pop Summit 2015, thanks to MaruQ San Francisco’s fashion showcase and competition. Photos by Christian Hadidjaja.
History of Harajuku Fashion Showcase in J-Pop Summit Festivals
Since two years ago, “kawaii” Harajuku fashion showcase has found a permanent annual showcase in J-Pop Summit festival. It started with ‘Harajuku Kawaii’ pop-up store with grand opening event featuring Kyari Pamyu Pamyu, along with Harajuku models Ayumi Seto, Yura, Eva, Saki, and Yuka during J-Pop Summit 2013.
In 2014, the Harajuku fashion showcase continued with returning Ayumi Seto, Misa Kimura, and Una under the banner of Asobi System’s Moshi Moshi Nippon initiative.
‘Harajuku Kawaii’ pop-up store’s grand opening featuring Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Sebastian Masuda, and Harajuku models.
Kawaii Fashion Overload fashion show during J-Pop Summit Festival 2014 featuring Ayumi Seto, Misa Kimura, and Una.
Harajuku Fashion of J-Pop Summit 2015
Harajuku fashion affair at J-Pop Summit 2015 was a little different than last year’s. Asobi System’s Moshi Moshi Nippon had its own showcase on Day 1, featuring newly formed girl idol group Musubizm that features Misa Kimura, fashion producers/models/recording artists AMIAYA, singer Anna Yano, and returning aomoji-kei supermodel and Aymmy in the batty girls designer Ayumi Seto.
Separated from Moshi Moshi Nippon event, the Harajuku fashion showcase was hosted by MaruQ San Francisco, the one-stop, direct-from-Japan Harajuku fashion oasis located in San Francisco Japantown’s NEW PEOPLE building, Mezzanine level. Indeed, MaruQ San Francisco is the same store that started as ‘Harajuku Kawaii’ pop-up store in 2013 (and Liz Lisa Pop-up store in 2012). The store regularly stocks ACDC, Aymmy in the batty girls, 6%DokiDoki, Liz Lisa, tokidoki, MILKBBI, Proof, Rilakumma, Ma Chere Cosette and others.
MaruQ curated three outfits for this showcase, featuring ACDC RAG, MILKBBI, and 6%DOKIDOKI. Check out all the looks below, with the models decked out in Harajuku goodness from head to toe.
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Shortly after, MaruQ also presented the three finalists for Harajuku fashion contest, all of whom presented their own take on Harajuku style. While the third girl made a grand entrance with her personalized Baby the Stars Shine Bright ensemble (she won, btw), I have to say the second girl (with the baseball bat and wifi icon shirt) was my favorite and pick to win. She embodies the whole ‘Harajuku fashion in San Francisco’ vibe. I also love the fact that she borrowed the baseball bat from her father :)
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So with that, the more intimate Harajuku fashion showcase of J-Pop Summit 2015 came to a close. While it was a well-organized display, it felt a little more like a filler than an actual showcase. Its limitations are understandable, however, knowing that this year’s J-Pop Summit marked the transition from free to paid event. It would be great to see Harajuku fashion take more center stage once more in the coming years!
Thanks for reading; until next time,
Musank
Photos by Christian Hadidjaja.
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