Wednesday, April 24, 2024 @ 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

RSVP Required | Talk Event | @ The Japan Foundation, Toronto (2 Bloor St. East, Toronto, Ontario)

Register here: https://tr.jpf.go.jp/event/designers-talk/

Every country has its unique climate and natural features, to which accordingly it develops its suitable food culture, architecture, craft works, and performing arts. Clothing also always embodies cultural values which reflect the distinctive characteristics of those places. Clothes have been produced based on the aesthetics which have gone through continuous sophistication in the course of a long history.

But when did we start to call this versatile clothing culture simply “Fashion”? “Fashion” must not be the name of an existing thing, but just a noun to describe a phenomenon.

Unique aesthetics with tremendous originality and handicraft which materialize the aesthetics can be lost first in modernization and globalization. While clothing has been downgraded as the equal of fashion for a long time, let’s re-examine our clothing culture as a representation of each culture anew.

Matohu（まとふ）has continued to question these fundamental issues between clothing and culture through our clothes. By introducing our work of matohu as examples, we will share our pursuit of versatility and sustainability which all of us, both in Canada or Japan, desperately need in upcoming times.

About the aesthetics, the “Japanese Eye （日本の眼）” series will provide examples. The talk will be delivered with video clips, conceptual images, and original textile/clothes.

About the handicraft, the “Journey from Palms of Hands （手のひらの旅）” series will give examples. The talk will be delivered with video clips, an explanation of the history and current status of each craft, and the actual results of collaboration with matohu.

– HORIHATA Hiroyuki, SEKIGUCHI Makiko, matohu designers, March 2024