Japanese fashion is widely loved because it embraces the beauty of individuality. One of the CENTRESTAGE ELITES brands this year is FETICO, a Japanese brand established by designer Emi Funayama in 2020. Not only has Funayama catered to the taste of her clientele, she also highlights the beauty of Asian women through classic silhouettes. In the competitive world of fashion, Funayama has managed to make a name for herself through honing a nuanced understanding of the relationship between femininity and clothing.
Conformity will never lead to groundbreaking work, a rebellious attitude is more like it in fashion design. Local brand REDEMPTIVE was established by founder and designer Wilson Choi who has resisted the mainstream with a rebellious spirit since 2018. Building upon the foundation of pragmatic designs, he creates personalised, practical and multi-functional clothing. Have the highs and lows of the new normal altered Choi’s rebellious nature? Or has he stayed true to himself through it all? Let’s explore the inner world of the man behind one of the CENTRESTAGE ELITES brands this year.