Iniye Tokyo James, is an English-Nigerian fashion designer that recently has been getting a lot of buzz after his fashion show at the Milan Fashion Week, but we are not there yet. He is one of the eight finalist of the LVMH Prize that the conglomerate celebrates every year and where fortunate fashion designers receive a lot of exposure and the winner become instantly in a statement and trend in the elitist fashion industry.
Tokyo James as a brand is very politically motivated and influenced by world affairs. Designing it creates a parallel reality where everyone is pragmatic and nobody believe in the hype. In its creations a very modern African twist is visible mixed with a social value. Intersectionality is one of the focus point in the brand and is expressed by creating irrevent fashion with a cultural edge to it. The trend that Tokyo James would set in the industry if it gets into mass media it would be the tendency to manipulate the classic men’s silhouette. The suit can never die according to the brand because is a essential in a formal wardrobe for men.
In a future, Tokyo James is going to get more and more refined in its aesthetic, looking and paying attention to the details. Also, he defines luxury as the root in the nuance that exists between the intersections and commonalities of different worlds, and he want to expand this message into the whole world. This is going to happen launching season after season killer collections that usually starts of a dream.
In the case of FW22, the designer was inspired by the concept “telegraphing beauty after a time of strain.” This idea is expressed by a firm rebuke of sorrow, with neon oranges, yellows, and lime greens to uplift. He has already established his signature shape in menswear (scrunched up in the back) but in womenswear needs to step up. The detail works best on his most classically structured suit that in this occasion are mixed with Nike shoes all over it (deconstructed even). We need more of this rebellious uniformity for men and the certainly sexy women that this men is portraying with his work.
Alvaro Ramos
