Tags
couture, givenchy, Japan, origami, Riccardo Tisci, samurai, thinking too much about stuff, traditional dress, travel
Riccardo Tisci’s Givenchy couture offerings this season were all about Asian influence. It’s little wonder, because Asia and all the rich facets of it’s culture are slowly permeating Western consciousness. Asia also has a major commercial influence, what with Prada joining the ever-increasing ranks of companies choosing to list in Hong Kong as opposed to their home markets.
This collection draws on a LOT of Asian influences (butoh, Kazuo Ohno, anime, embroidery, cranes, dragons… the list goes on) but I’m really interested in (as far as my incredibly amateurish, untrained eyes can see) the samurai and origami influences.
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| Japanese samurai circa 1870 |
When you go on websites that feature this collection and the insano, day-glo Philip Treacy headgear, the comments section is inevitably clogged with cries of ‘VIKING!’ – you can really see the influence of the samurai helmets. Irrelevant note alert – One of my favourite places to go in the V&A Museum in London is the Japanese section to look at all the samurai uniform. It’s all so intricate and well crafted. Every aspect of the samurai uniform is carefully considered; every colour, every fold, every image has a cultural or practical significance. Perhaps it’s this attention to detail that aligns it so well with Givenchy.
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| Samurai circa 1880 |
You can really see the samurai and origami influences in the sharpness and angularity of the shoulders. The pink motif above looks like it could be a representation of a samurai helmet (or a backpack in the shape of a bug if you think about it in a Rorschach kinda way). I love the pristine whiteness of this dress. It’s like a fresh piece of paper begging to be folded into all sorts of magical shapes.
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| Origami samurai helmets |
The headgear made so much more sense when I saw these mini samurai helmets made out of paper. I know that it’s supposed to be based on robots… but I like thinking it’s an origami samurai helmet. Let me have my wrongfooted delusion, ok? Here is a link if you want to make a tiny samurai helmet and wear it on your finger.
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I’m not very good at conclusions, so let me just say that the Givenchy collection is beautiful and batshit crazy. Just the way I like it.
>I totally agree – absolutely adore this collection. First one in quite a while that had a very immediate effect on me that's lingered in my mind for a while. My favourite aspect of this collection is the bumpy texzture of panels on the lialac dress which is actually hoards of pearls and precious stones sewen between layers of fabric. The fabric's been rubbed so that some of the sparkle peeks through, but it's been designed so that as the gown is worn and passed down to generations the stones reveal themselves gradually with wear.UM FASHION BONER.xxx
>Givency is just crazy – beautiful always. The detail, the intricacy of design..collections like this one remind us why haute couture still exists nowadays
>Kerazay…but stunning nonetheless. Wouldn't mind one myself!
>Excellent pictures, reminded me of the samurai suits of armour I saw at the V&A. Good post
>Great collection, yep the origami samurai helmets explain alot!
Emma
>Smashing post there love. I totally wanna make an Origami helmet and wear it on my finger. How cool would I look? "Oh, I'm a huge fan of Givenchy's samurai inspired collection, hence the Origami finger puppet". People would be JEALOUSSSS.
>Meant to comment on the actual fashion there too, soz. Love all the gowns, they're all unbelievably beautiful. Deadly how all the pictures are from behind too. Although people without a highly trained fashion eye might not be able to spot that.
>my friends love this couture collection. i don't as much. but givenchy will always be givenchy. regarding the tap on the asian market, it's nice that the west finally realized the potential here in the east.nouveauskin.blogspot.com
>Its been a while, but I actually remember that Samurai uniform in the V&A! I love that place, so easy and pleasurable to while away several hours in there
>Great post – I hope these were the inspirations!
>Conclusion… Beautiful? God yes.
>Beautiful designs – especially since I'm a sucker for anything remotely Asian in influence
Just stunning. Excellent post. 
>i used cosmetics and other things from givenchy but not clothes. some good backless dress.