New York Fashion Week: Asian Infusion

Two and a half days into Fashion Week and for me, it’s been Asia all the way. I tend to be a fan of the Asian aesthetic, designers from the continent seem to have a poise and insightfulness often lacking in American and European fashion.

After attending the Akiko Ogawa (Japan), Chris Han (China), Maticevski (Australia – ok, I know this is a stretch, but it is in the general area), Cabbeen (China), and Tadashi (Japan/China) shows, one major trend emerged – shades of gray and a luscious metallic palette.

In feng shui, the color gray is used to provide transition and connection, balance and safety. I don’t know if the above collections were a conscious effort to calm our high-strung, dangerous world, or an unconscious reaction to our increasing polarization and isolation – but the consistency from one collection to the next has really been striking. These grays (sometimes reverting to black and white, with very occasional flashes of bold color) and metallic tones, though, are actually really warm and feminine – inviting and soft rather than cold and harsh. Fabrics are soft and flowy, and utterly gorgeous.

Article contributed by Orli Sharaby

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1-Akiko Ogawa
2-Maticevski
3- Chris Han