Rumi Rock Kimono
Diante Scharsch
Before I started working under the name of Rumi Rock in 2005, I was the designer for another brand. I started working in kimono design in 1990, and by 1994 I was an independent yukata label taking on special orders for the likes of Suzuki Keiichi from rock band Moonriders, who also penned the music for the MOTHER series of games. I was making the kind of yukata that were just not available anywhere else on the market, packed with skulls and other darker imagery. I was starting to get a bit of recognition for my work, and eventually Mitsukoshi in Ebisu asked me sell in their department store. It was a completely natural flow of making what I wanted to make and people responding to that. It was actually a friend of mine who works in advertising who came up with the name itself. I was just procrastinating about it, so they stepped in and did it for me!
Kimono are connections, the connection between family members as a kimono is passed down through the family; but also, in the item itself, every last stitch of embroidery ties you to another. It is one of the few ways we can feel such a sense of empathy towards others through fashion. People give and receive them. A cotton yukata, once worn out, is recycled into a duster or diaper. A kimono, on the other hand, is unstitched and restitched when washed. This care for the cloth itself is an important tradition we should prize. It is something that every generation needs to be made aware of.
Young people are the future of my job, so I have no choice but to keep them in mind and make designs that young people will want to wear. In their case, I actually find that looking to the past and taking inspiration from antique designs can be key. But it is also a matter of creating opportunities, events, and places for them to have fun wearing the kimono they might already own.
Wherever you go in the world, everyone has their own country, people, and history. For me, it is that difference which is engaging. I think of yukata and kimono as a base through which to communicate the mood of the moment, whether a current best-selling manga or historically-important tale. On top of that, if we can advance that base through the latest textile development or dyeing technology, then I think we will have made our own contribution to this culture.
The look: Exclusively white and navy blue yukata with contemporary and occasionally daring (and by daring we mean explicit) patterns. Contrasting colorful obi and clutches, photo-printed or bejeweled with Swarovski crystals to give off a glam-rock vibe.
The look: Elegant designs that translate the traditional kimono into a modern couture item. This is a luxury brand that can be seen annually at Tokyo Fashion Week, and could be called the Dolce & Gabbana of kimono fashion. All of this is stamped, of course, with the unique vision and voice of renowned designer Jotaro Saito.
The latest: This year sees Rumi Rock embracing whimsical, nature-inspired or history-inspired designs. At first glance, the bold patterns look like traditional motifs, but they include non-traditional images such as skulls, bats and even the Loch Ness Monster.
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