Rakuten Fashion Week TOKYO 2026 A/W – Day 1 Highlights
Rakuten Fashion Week TOKYO 2026 A/W – Day 1 Highlights
The 2026 A/W season of Rakuten Fashion Week TOKYO (Rakuten FWT) opened with a series of notable runway presentations across Tokyo, showcasing both established designers and emerging talents. Shows were held at key venues including Shibuya Hikarie, Ginza Lion Classic Hall and the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum.
YOKE – FASHION PRIZE OF TOKYO 2026 Homecoming Show
March 15 | Shibuya Hikarie Hall A
A special homecoming runway show was held the day before the official opening of Fashion Week, featuring YOKE, winner of the FASHION PRIZE OF TOKYO 2026 Grand Prix.
As a companion to the men’s show presented at Paris Fashion Week in January, this Tokyo presentation introduced an all-women’s collection. A large screen displayed scenes of everyday life in Paris, recalling the brand’s experience two months earlier when it debuted internationally.
As the show began, the footage shifted to side-view clips from the Paris runway, visually linking the two presentations.
Female models walked through a dramatic lighting setup that projected their shadows onto the venue walls — a signature visual effect often used by the brand.
This season drew inspiration from the work of sculptor Jean Arp under the theme “BEYOND FORM.” Using high-quality textiles, the collection explored minimalist silhouettes with subtle illusions, echoing Arp’s surrealist sculptures.
Styling details included:
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Jackets cinched at the waist with delicate belts
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Gloves hooked onto belts
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Scarves wrapped around the waist like an obi sash
These unexpected touches created subtle tension within the predominantly I-line silhouettes.
Beauty styling also introduced contrast: bright red lips against nude tones, and footwear ranging from kitten heels to thin-strap high heels. The women’s line revealed a restrained yet sensual aesthetic.
Accessories softened the collection’s mood. Knit bags created in collaboration with KNITPOTTERY, designed by Emiko Sato, appeared alongside footwear produced with foot the coacher, continuing a partnership that began in the Spring/Summer 2026 season.
Designer Norio Terada shared that the Paris presentation marked a new stage for the brand:
“During our time in Paris, we secured about ten new overseas wholesale partners. This show represents a new phase for YOKE.”
At the show’s conclusion, the models returned unexpectedly to the runway, allowing guests to view the garments more closely.
In the foyer, guests celebrated the opening of Fashion Week with drinks including **Dassai sparkling sake. The press conference and interviews that followed reflected the growing international attention surrounding YOKE.
KAKAN – TOKYO FASHION AWARD 2026 Winner
March 16 | Shibuya Hikarie Hall A
Another highlight of the first day was the debut runway show of KAKAN, winner of the TOKYO FASHION AWARD 2026.
Known for intricate knitwear, designer Kakan Kudo presented a collection under the theme “WILD, NOT PURE.”
The concept explored the idea that beauty is inherently wild rather than perfectly pure. Kudo developed the collection while revisiting The Savage Mind by Claude Lévi-Strauss, describing the process as a return to her creative roots.
The runway opened with a long dress from the brand’s signature HANDSPAN series, accompanied by a gentle piano melody. Knitwear remained central, contrasted with tailored suits that emphasized the contours of the body.
Standout pieces included:
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A textured metallic-thread knit zip-up hoodie with a shaggy interior
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Outerwear printed with the striking phrase “DO THIS OR DIE”
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Knit bags from the HANDSPAN line, originally introduced through a crowdfunding campaign
The finale dress was created through an experimental technique in which the garment’s shape was not predetermined. Instead, the designer knitted the piece in dialogue with the yarn itself.
As the model walked, she gradually released the knitted fabric she was holding, leaving a fleeting trail behind her. After letting go of the final strand, she blew a kiss to the audience and exited the runway.
Guests also received a press release styled as a personal letter from the designer, written the very morning of the show.
Kudo’s message reflected on the fashion industry’s tendency to reduce ideas into binaries — black or white, for or against. Her designs instead embrace irregularity and gradation, celebrating beauty that cannot be defined by simple oppositions.
Partnership Show: TAIWAN SELECT
March 16 | Shibuya Hikarie Hall B
“TAIWAN SELECT fashion show,” organized by the Taiwan Textile Federation, was presented at Rakuten Fashion Week TOKYO for the first time.
Three designer teams showcased their collections:
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PCES — a playful collection themed “There is no party without you.”
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Yentity — designs inspired by architectural photography
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CHIA — a melancholic collection referencing a Hong Kong singer and songs by Akina Nakamori
pays des fées
March 16 | Ginza Lion Classic Hall
The whimsical world of pays des fées descended upon the historic Ginza Lion Classic Hall, a registered cultural property built before World War II.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the brand revisited archival designs while presenting new interpretations of its fairy-inspired aesthetic.
Models appeared with glittering insect wings, antennae, and upside-down floral accessories. Materials included tweed, velvet, and iridescent organza.
The collection was influenced by animistic and pantheistic imagery from early religious paintings encountered by the designers in Cappadocia, Turkey.
The show concluded with twin looks and a message of peace — fitting for a venue that survived the fires of World War II.
YUEQI QI
March 16 | Jiyu Gakuen Myonichi-kan
The latest collection from YUEQI QI drew inspiration from “ROSA,” a now-vanished underground shopping arcade that once existed in Niigata.
Rather than focusing on spectacle, the designer emphasized craftsmanship and subtle storytelling.
Key elements included:
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Lace created with the brand’s signature “Love” motif
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Asian-inspired graphics blended with streetwear
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Lingerie-inspired silhouettes and school-uniform details
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Pixel-art black cat graphics returning from previous seasons
Playful styling featured jewelry dangling from the models’ eyes and noses, mimicking anime-style tears.
ENFÖLD – “Living Sculpture”
March 16 | Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum
ENFÖLD presented its first runway show at Rakuten Fashion Week TOKYO under the theme “Living Sculpture.”
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| photo credit: ENFÖLD |
The collection explored contrasting ideas such as:
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contraction and expansion
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rigidity and flexibility
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stillness and movement
Design inspiration came from sculptors Constantin Brancusi, Mark Manders, and Isamu Noguchi.
The color palette featured mint green, mustard, brown, and grape purple — blending autumn and winter tones.
A distinctive “silent disco” format allowed attendees to wear headphones and experience the show’s music individually, creating an immersive atmosphere.
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