VanTan Tokyo’s Fall 2012 showing at Fashion Week in Lincoln Center began in a somber manner, with a model simply standing in a “Star Trek” type portal. The show featuring a melange of trends, from hot short shorts on models with long legs and long hair, and mini balloon skirts (saved by lots of colorful tights), to long, layered looks that covered just about everything. Then, suddenly, another top that left practically nothing to the imagination. A wild mix of fabrics. Perhaps the philosophy and focus of this show is best described by the liner notes to the show:
“Vantan Tokyo began as a part of Vantan Design Institute’s incubation projects in 2009, setting a stage for the market debut of students while still at school as well as creating a platform for them to launch their creative career. We have held Vantan Tokyo three times during Paris Fashion Week. Our graduates include active young designers, such as Aguri Sagimori of “AGURI SAGIMORI” and Masahiko Maruyama of “nude: masahiko maruyama”. Changing the venue from Paris to New York next year, Vantan has been moving into a new phase. We proudly announce that Vantan Tokyo will be presented in February 2012 at The Studio in Lincoln Center for the AW 2012 collection. Vantan Design Institute will be the first and only design school, among all the educational institutions in Japan, to participate in Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York.”
The unique finale was as amusing as the beginning of the show, with the designers walking the runway in groups behind some of the models and bowing to the photography riser. If you are having trouble seeing the video here, it is also available on You Tube
