CERITA TUR; A KIMONO REMAKE BRAND WOW’S AT VFW F/W 2023

CERITA TUR

Cerita Tur comes to Vancouver Fashion Week(VFW) from Osaka, Japan. This is the first collection of Cerita Tur, created by designer Kouge Yuki and her inspiration and best friend Ayaka, who is also her daughter. Cerita Tur is a Japanese kimono remake brand launched in 2019. The brand's name means "A Revolving Story " an Indonesian phrase inspired by an exchange student who was the designer's assistant.

The kimono is a Japanese traditional garment that dates back to the third century. Though previously worn as everyday apparel it is now worn primarily for ceremonial occasions. Today kimonos can be seen at festivals, weddings, funerals, and graduations. With changing fashion, often kimonos have been relegated to the back of the closet or end up in the many 2nd hand stores all over Japan. Kouge Yuki is inspired to give new life to these used kimonos. Yuki sources her materials in these resale shops and transforms them into contemporary fashion.

Kouge Yuki and her co-designer and daughter Ayaka gave me a brief tour of the garments for their show. The rack was full of color and pattern. In our conversation, I learned that a single kimono contains as much as 14 meters of fabric and is often made from 100% silk. " I get inspired by the kimonos, each one is unique and includes its own stories," said Yuki. The designer duo told me that some of the kimonos were used at weddings. As part of their philosophy, the designers told me they want to expose the world to the kimono "They should not end with just tradition alone, and they should not end only in Japan. We design clothes that can be worn by people of all ages so that both the wearer and the kimono can have a wonderful journey(TUR) around the world."

CERITA TUR ON THE RUNWAY

Traditional Japanese music plays as the models step out. Since the kimonos are upcycled into the garments, these are one-of-a-kind bespoke pieces. The designer duo sent 12 looks down the catwalk, creating a collection that had a distinct aesthetic mixing Western silhouettes with Eastern prints.

The first look set the tone for this collection, a moto jacket in rich gold tones and a full-length skirt with vertical slats in multiple prints; as the skirt moves, it flashes various prints in gold, oranges, and reds. The designer's desire to expose us to the luxuriant fabrics of the kimonos is realized. Other highlights include a series of bomber jackets with traditional satin inserts and sleeves mixed with brilliant prints. A pink bomber is paired with a glistening satin mini skirt and an anime print tee shirt. Styling includes chunky sneakers and backpacks with stuffed animals.

Throughout the collection are peasant skirts made from floral kimono prints, they are light and fresh and timeless. Closing the show are two maxi dresses with tiers and full skirts one in blue to pink florals the other in autumnal tones. The strength of this collection lies in the marriage of classic kimono prints with cranes, chrysanthemums, butterflies and maple leaves with the contemporary shapes of bomber jackets and peasant skirts. The first collection from Cerita Tur starts the journey of bringing the kimono to the world . I look forward to next leg of the journey and how the kimono can be upcycled.