Anrealage Brings Color-Changing Clothing To Fashion Week
Japanese brand Anrealage released its Fall/Winter 23 collection on February 28 at the Théâtre de la Madeleine. Designer Kunihiko Morinaga uses photochromic technology to alter the colors of the garments, a technique he has experimented with in the past.
True Colors Revealed
The clothing quite literally comes to light as models are scanned with UV light rays to reveal the true colors and patterns of the garments — blue, yellow, and pink pastels, checkers, as well as polka dots. Morinaga incorporates lace, knit, and faux fur into the designs, a first for the designer. Notably, an all-white dress turns into a colorful combination of florals with lace details throughout. This is also Morinaga’s first time introducing colors such as yellow, blue, and red that change hues under the light. The colors shift along with the sunlight and will return to return to their original shade within several minutes without UV exposure.
Shifting Perceptions
According to the designer, the collection focuses on the concept of Umwelt, which explores the perception of the environment. Correspondingly, Morinaga expresses the idea that perception is not equal. He gives the example of a bee, which can see only splashes of a yellow flower while the rest is monochrome, whereas humans see more of its colors. He showcases this idea through changing tones and colors, as with a yellow dress that reveals green stripes when exposed to light.
Kunihiko Morinaga studied at the Vantan Design Institute while attending university. In 2003, the designer launched the brand
and Anrealage, which combines the words, “real,” “unreal,” and “age.” The designer made his first collection debut in 2005. He later won several awards, including the Mainichi Grand Prix, and was a finalist for the LVMH prize in 2019. Morinaga’s designs are futuristic, incorporating new technology that shifts the perception of reality.
The Fall/Winter 23 can be viewed at anrealage.com, along with previous collections.
Featured image source: designscene.net