Pretend that I am writing this in Japanese. Konnichi Wa. Hello for today.
Some of the best things happen by accident. Case in point is my trip to the
Cotton Sheep boutique in Hayes Valley to procure a pair
of stockings for a Linda Loudermilk outfit. The search to finish one
eco-couture dress led unexpectedly to another. The mastery of Japanese fashion
designer Suzuki Takayuki.
Suzuki Takayuki began his career as a costume designer in Tokyo. He is inspired by nature, and it shows in the
delicate details of his pieces. Intricate laces, playful feminine curves, and
organic colors that could enable you to camouflage yourself from predators in
the wild, or at least in the urban cocktail party jungle. He uses natural dyes from the essence of raw
woods, juniper berries, and more.
See pictures from the most recent Suzuki Takayuki fashion show
in Tokyo, which
began with a towering photograph of tree branches.
In his words, “clothes should be about not only trends but
also individuality. My approach is
to cherish every moment in the life of a garment, particularly finding new sides
of it even when it seems totally worn out. Beauty can be found in anything. Objects like torn flowers can be seen
as beautiful.”
Cotton Sheep also carries some stunning light Gasa sweaters
made from washi.
Eco-fashion designer Linda Loudermilk is a lover of the natural fabric sasawashi,
which is a blend of the detoxifying Japanese plant kumazasa with washi. Linda
also derives the inspiration for her sexy Luxury Eco collections from nature –
the colors of a peacock, the glaciers, the ocean.
At Cotton Sheep, you might not be able to read your hang tag
filled with Japanese characters, but the owner will translate enthusiastically
with a smile. The language of fashion and nature is universal.
While you
are there, don’t forget to pick up some wild stockings for your next night out.
Warning - they may elicit rave reviews from strangers.
Cotton Sheep Boutique, 572 Hayes Street, San Francisco, 415-621-5546, www.suzukitakayuki.com
Pretend that I am writing this in Japanese. 
Cotton Sheep also carries some stunning light Gasa sweaters
made from washi.
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