Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo news and archive

Strong princesses, grunge, and new forms: Highlights from Tokyo Fashion Week

In Tokyo, designers are merging tradition with modernity for the AW25 season. The creatives brought together classic silhouettes with sporty elements, creating chic yet urban collections suitable for various everyday situations in the Japanese capital and other metropolises. Here's an overview of the brands to keep an eye on and the latest...

Fashion |In Pictures

In Pictures: Paul Smith takes to Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo as guest designer

British brand Paul Smith joined the schedule of the ongoing Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo (FWT) this week, with a runway showcasing its latest autumn/winter 2025 collection “inspired by the art of image making”. The event came as part of the ‘by R’ project, an initiative backed by the fashion week’s main sponsor Rakuten that intends to support the...

Fashion

Paul Smith to show at Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo

British designer Paul Smith will showcase his autumn/winter 2025 collection at Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo, which runs from March 17 to 22. Paul Smith will show his collection with support from Rakuten’s ‘By R’ project, an initiative designed to empower the Japanese fashion scene by bringing brands “loved by fans in both Japan and globally,” as...

Fairs

Pitti Uomo and Japan Fashion Week Organisation strike up partnership

Japan Fashion Week Organisation (JFWO), the firm behind Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo, has announced a new partnership with Pitti Immagine, the parent company of Florentine menswear fair Pitti Uomo. The relationship intends to reinforce promotional activities related to Pitti Uomo towards the Japanese media and local fashion market, a press release...

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Business

Rakuten FWT: International brands find a home in Japan, local names prepare for Paris

While New York Fashion Week began to take over the US city, on the opposite side of the globe Tokyo was already well in the midst of its own fashion frenzy as Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo (FWT) held its SS25 season. The event, hosted by Japan Fashion Week Organisation (JFWO), welcomed a total of 33 brands across its six day span, wrapping up on...

Fairs

Tranoï positions itself on Asian market with first Tokyo edition

In the midst of Tokyo Fashion Week, the Tranoï fashion trade show will set up shop from September 4 to 5 at Bellesalle Shibuya First. Tranoï Tokyo aims to establish itself in the national market and attract buyers from the Asian continent, a move that hopes to compensate for the decline in Japanese buyers in Paris. It is not only Japan that is...

Featured

Fashion

Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo to continue ‘Open, Fashion Week’ concept for SS25

The Japan Fashion Week Organisation (JFWO) will be continuing its efforts of internationalisation for the next edition of Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo, set to take place from September 2 to 7. For the SS25 season, the event will move forward with its ongoing theme ‘Open, Fashion Week’, dedicated to bolstering Tokyo’s local fashion scene among a...

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Business|Interview

Ryo Matsumura of Japan's Rakuten: 'We would like to represent French designers who are not yet known'

In past seasons of Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo, the event’s headline sponsor, tech firm and e-commerce retailer Rakuten, has made it known of its intentions to secure stronger ties with the influential fashion weeks of the West. During Tokyo’s FW24 fashion week, for example, Paris Fashion Week’s official tradeshow partner, Tranoï, announced it...

News

Four brands named as winners of JFW Digital Grand Prix 2024

The Japan Fashion Week Organisation (JFWO) has announced the four winners of this year’s JFW Digital Grand Prix, recognising brands that have excelled in the realm of digital presentation. While the jury collectively agreed that no work presented this year “would lead to new challenges or the development of digital expression”, and as such there...

Fashion |In Pictures

In Pictures: Marimekko takes Tokyo for Unikko print’s 60th anniversary year

When fashion and tech platform Rakuten launched its ‘by R’ initiative back in 2020, the concept was initially based around supporting and encouraging the return of homegrown talent to their roots of Japan, putting on an international pedestal established names that have globally surfaced in the midst of the local industry. However, like all good...

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Business

Rakuten FWT: Sentimentality reigns among emerging names as global ties continue to strengthen

As the demand for Japanese designers grows, it is no wonder that a similar fate has befallen the country’s local fashion week, where the roster continues to expand as the born-and-raised talent make the shift between European presentations and home shows in greater numbers. Over the course of March 11 to 16, Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo (FWT)...

Featured

Fashion |In Pictures

Rakuten FWT street style defined by black ties and sporty eveningwear

Japan’s clothing style is well known for its contemporary and unconventional forms, often mixing western garments (or yōfuku) with traditional and heritage elements to create an aesthetic that is truly unique to the country. This could be seen on the streets of the rising fashion capital Tokyo, which last week was abuzz with its ongoing fashion...