You can always rely on Japan Fashion Week to provide some avant-garde designs. Where the Western world’s take on ready-to-wear falls short of innovation, the East draws from history, popular culture, the future, technology and fantasy to create new forms and fabrics. One standout label from the latest runways shows in Tokyo is Korea’s Fleamadonna. Seoul designer Jei Kim launched the label in 2007, sticking to a mishmashed aesthetic of rock-meets-romance, and clothing various Korean celebrities, including Girl’s Generation. Her SS2015 collection featured lots of billowy cuts, big sating prints and oversized checks. Silhouettes ranged from hanbok-like empire lines to 50s-style loose crop-tops and culottes. Fleamdonna’s sailor motif was present as was the collegiate angle with shiny letterman jackets emblazoned on the back with a giant “F.” It was a flowing, feminine collection overall, though never cutesy or conventional.

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