At Heitate Jingu Shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, there is a five-colored mask enshrined, which is said to represent all the races of the world. Once every five years, there is a festival to pray for a world of harmony where all human beings on Earth recognize and help each other.
For AW2023-24, we used various techniques to express the legends and prophecies of the Native American HOPI tribe (People of Peace), who are known as Akahito (Red Man) among the five-colored divine masks.
This season, we will be offering items that incorporate the myths and legends of the Nordic Slavic people, also known as Caucasian people (Shirohito). If we could remove the various barriers that divide people, such as the repeated conflicts between people of the same ethnic group, invasions by other ethnic groups, and the physical and psychological barriers that remain to this day, people would be able to live freely and peacefully, and a brighter future might become possible.
The collection theme is expressed through various methods: darkness and light, monochrome and color, fake and real.
Additionally, we used AI extensively this season as well, generating graphics through prompts, creating materials for storytelling, and incorporating it into our designs, creating items that incorporate discoveries made by misleading AI, as well as fun elements.
Both humans and AI make mistakes, which have led to many misunderstandings and errors in modern times, but the message conveyed is that we should also enjoy these experiences.
In Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, the Heitate Shrine venerates a mask called the "Goshiki Jinmen," said to represent all races of the world. Every five years, a festival is held here to pray for a world where all of humanity acknowledges and helps one another.
For AW2023-24, we have expressed the traditions and prophecies of the Native American Hopi tribe, known as "Akahito" or "Red People" in the Goshiki Shinmen, using various techniques.
This season, we are introducing items inspired by the myths and legends of the Nordic Slavic people, referred to as "Shirohito" or "White People" in the Goshiki Shinmen. These items reflect on the recurring conflicts within the same ethnic groups, invasions by other ethnicities, and the physical and psychological barriers that persist to modern times. Removing these barriers might enable people to live freely and peacefully, potentially leading to a brighter future.
Our collection expresses its theme through various methods: darkness and light, monochrome and color, fake and real. We also heavily utilized AI this season for graphic generation and story creation, incorporating discoveries and intrigue stemming from AI's misdirections. The items created embody the idea that both humans and AI can make mistakes, leading to various misunderstandings and errors in our time, but there is joy to be found in this as well.
