Bunka News!

Inspired by Bunka fashion students......

The Fashion students at Bunka Gakuen University are studying a two year Fashion Design postgraduate degree. Like the Applied Art courses at Nottingham Trent, you are required to create a collection of outfits/garments/accessories; however at Bunka there is a requirement that you produce ten garments in the first year and fifteen in the second. This condition of the course is unlike at Nottingham where the collection outcome is completely self-directed.

The discussion between the Dean of the Fashion College, Prof Sanae Kosugi, and the students in the first year feedback session indicated how much of an influence the tutors have on the students. It also highlighted high tutor involvement and how this is important for growth for them as designers.

First year student, Yuya Nakata`s knitwear creations were made using the whole garment technology on the Shima Seiki knitting machines. His work has been picked by the judges of the 
 So-en magazine design competition as one of four students to appear in the next issue. The students picked are usually at second year postgraduate level so this is a brilliant recognition for him as a designer.

Second year MA Fashion Design student Tatsuya Tamado, works with fabrics of leather and polyester/cotton mix. He has made slashes in the fabric in certain directions creating shapes that mimic his inspiration – muscles in the human body. His precise work enables you too see the detail behind the leather, backing it with a polyester/cotton mix fabric.

Takayuki Toki has created the beginning of his collection based on the idea of Greek fantasies and the computer game Final Fantasy. The detail in the outfits such as fur trims, metal bag chains and oversized wooden accessories indicate the importance of combining different materials to his work. The collection had led the student to create his own fur by collaborating with a manufacturer for production. This element of his design showed the dedication to following the specific look he wanted to make.

Ryota Danno is also a second year MA student and his collection so far was inspired by his first piece, a cream slashed jacket. The innovative shape of the garment was interesting to see zipped up and opened as it transformed the overall look, highlighting the unconventional shape of the hem and the oversized collar. The surface design included precise cuts which revealed a knitted lining creating a flexible fabric.

The work produced showed innovative ideas and interesting fabrics and can’t help but inspire any creative individual’s passion for fashion.

PS...from Jonie