Japanese fashion designer Junya Watanabe's African-influenced Spring 2009 collection boasted head wraps of sheaths of flowers and leaves of imposing, towering height on his runway.
Watanabe is known to have an interest in Africa and its prints and patterns which began with last year's Spring Collection. Because of that influence, the designer sprinkles his clothes with faded denim, dresses and tops of bright, cheerful colors and motifs reminiscent of the African continent.
Implications - Consumers are fascinated by the unconventional and different, and fashion designers are able to satiate this consumer demand for the foreign by literally using tribal wear from foreign cultures. Corporations looking for inspiration in product designs may similarly borrow elements from other world cultures, from the Western to the Orient.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- African-influenced Fashion
- Fashion designers can incorporate elements from African cultures to create unique and unconventional designs.
- Tribal-inspired Accessories
- Creating tribal-inspired accessories, such as head wraps, can satisfy consumer demand for unconventional and foreign fashion.
- Global Inspiration
- Product designers can draw inspiration from various world cultures to create innovative and diverse designs.
Where This Applies
- Fashion
- The fashion industry can explore African influences to create unique and culturally-inspired clothing and accessories.
- Accessories
- The accessories industry can incorporate tribal-inspired elements to create distinctive and eye-catching pieces.
- Product Design
- Various industries can draw inspiration from global cultures to create innovative and diverse products.
