Inflation? At Anrealage, yes!
We know the Japanese designers showing in Paris often present rather far-out things. It's as if their success depended on out-innovating everyone else. Anrealage's spring/summer 2025 collection is, therefore, not out of the ordinary, just more extraordinaire. The clothes could inflate at a whim. While inflatables-as-clothing is not entirely new (we remember Issey Miyake tops from the '90s with blow-up plastic shapes on the chest), the 24-look presentation was not short of smile-bringing delightful. Designer Morinaga Kunihiko has expanded, literally, what can be done when air (the collection is called more dramatically—Wind) is introduced into clothes to form shapes that do not take into consideration those of the wearers.
The show started with a trio who emerged in soft ensembles that were innocuous enough. You could see that they were wearing lightweight nylon that might be some kind of rainwear. But when they suddenly stood still in a row, they were not posing. Their outfits suddenly puffed out. Cute as it were, the question that immediately came to our mind: How did they inflate their garments? The models were not seen activating any device that might have triggered the ballooning of the clothes. As it turned out (and we could later see) fans were sewn into the garments to introduce the unseen wind into them. It was still unclear to us how this devices were turned on (were discreet remote controls used). And how the air was trapped in the attire.
But the shapes did not remain globular. As more models came out, those blown-up garments had wings (some even like butterflies'), some had protuberances that might be found on bivalves inhabiting seabeds, some even look like dead corals (bleached) that unfortunately now formed part of reefs. You can't help but marvel at the shapes, even when a few of the irregular spheres could have been inspired by Comme des Garçons, but, as garments, they appear infinitely lighter than CDG's often heavy, felted fabrics. When not swelled up, which is how they would mostly be worn, we suspect, these pieces are themselves unusual tops and skirts (the trousers are not inflatable), with panels and flaps that would confound the conservative pattern maker.
We can think of so many scenarios when these garments would be very handy. Those who love to continue maintaining the social distancing of the recent past would find these clothes practicable. Pop stars who desire to make a statement on the red carpet or not look like the many Dior-clad would embrace them as newsworthy togs. They are also ideal for those who fear being ridiculed by spouses ot berated by parents before leaving their home if seen in something fantastical, since they can look somewhat normal before the blowing-up takes place at a preferred time and place. When fashion is increasingly anythingcore for everyone, it is terrific, even refreshing, to see unusual designs that likely would have finite appeal and limited regular use.
Screen shot (top) anrealage/YouTube. Photos: Anrealage
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