Maison MIHARAYASUHIRO A/W2023 Collection “Imitation Complex"

Autumn / Winter 2023-2024 “Imitation Complex" “I'm still tired. Everything I see looks fake. The Context has been frayed, and as they faded, they lost their meaning. Unfortunately, I am trying to remember what they used to look like.” Mihara Yasuhiro The boundary between something original and a copy is blurred and confusing. Now, the boundary itself is uncertain, which is interesting, whether something is original or not. For AW23, Maison MIHARA YASUHIRO debuted the use of faux leather; historically, leather shoes served as a foundation and starting point within his collections. This season, Yasuhiro has developed these techniques further and incorporated a ‘spray dyeing’ effect to mimic the distressed look and to link the series up with items that express the worn-out likeness of the “real thing". The puffer series - the collection's main focus, is produced by the use of extreme padding between the exterior and lining materials, representing stereotypical authentic items which contribute to the references of second hand clothing. Meanwhile, a key collaboration takes the forefront of the AW23 collection; the signature work of New York and Tokyo based jewellery artist, Kota Okuda. By using a monetary motif, Kota Okuda alchemically expresses the opaque value that is hidden in today's culture surrounding capitalism and commodities. The meaning imbued the collection ‘Imitation Complex’ and synergizes by perceiving the value of money as an uncertain presence through Okuda'