From Inspiration to Runway

Nastuko Kanno always includes ideas from her native Japan in her designs, such as a fabric made of paper (it looks and feels like twill). On top of that, each season she draws from specific references that could be considered rather obscure. 

Her Fall 2013 collection, presented in an art gallery on February 7, was inspired by Japanese warriors from hundreds of years ago. There was no armor in the line, but jackets and capes included capelets, something Kanno told us backstage are a hallmark of warrior costumes.

Kanno explained that her muse is a confident women, equally strong and feminine. Often that notion of power is subtle, such as in a diamond-shaped white graphic print on a beige jacket, which, it tuns out, references arrows. Who knew? These are the sort of thing one has to go backstage to learn.