Japanese designers have started to incorporate wa patterns to give their clothing an ethnic feel. This fashion innovation mixes old, traditional motifs with modern products to create a unique look.
Japanese wa include patterns such as Kyo yuzen or indigo dyeing, ho-chiku-bai or pine, bamboo and apricot motifs; and tsuru-kame, or crane and tortoise.
Implications - It has recently been predicted that within the next decade, there will be one master race of intertwined ethnicities, which grows more and more feasible with every passing day. The visible minorities of North America are no longer so, with multiculturalism serving a the norm in many regions. Companies and ad agencies must take this into consideration, and would be wise to adapt ethnicities for the mass population.
Ethnic Hybrid Denim
Japanese 'Wa' Patterns Give Clothes a Nationalistic Feel
Trend Themes
1. Ethnic Fusion Fashion - Combining traditional Japanese 'wa' patterns with modern clothing to create a unique ethnic look.
2. Cultural Hybridization - Incorporating diverse ethnic influences into fashion designs to cater to the multicultural market.
3. Ethnic Heritage Revival - Bringing back traditional ethnic patterns and motifs in contemporary fashion as a form of cultural expression.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion and Apparel - Opportunity for clothing brands to tap into the growing demand for ethnic fusion fashion.
2. Advertising and Marketing - Adapting ethnicities and multiculturalism in advertising campaigns to resonate with the mass population.
3. Ethnic Craft Industry - Reviving traditional ethnic patterns and motifs offers new opportunities for artisans specializing in ethnic crafts.