To ♥ Japanese Street Fashion

You probably remember that I lived in Japan for Four good years. From the moment I landed in Japan, in Tokyo, it hit me – the colors, the freedom to choose and combine as you will, and the freedom to wear whatever you want. And they don't call you weird, they call you cool! I just fell in love with Japanese street fashion from the moment I saw it. 
Look at the photos below and see what I mean...
(and I have a challenge for you at the end of this post)

You can never go wrong with red, black & white stripes with jeans in Tokyo

Colorful layers always get some attention (when you want it)

This is how you buy a pair of knee socks in Tokyo...Where else have you seen it?

Like my belief that creativity calls for true freedom in creating whatever from whatever…  so the freedom to wear whatever makes YOU feel good is true fashion with no limits but the material you have and the way you choose to use it.  The bigger the freedom - the funkier the outfit, the more attractive and appealing.

I admit, sometimes out of context these outfits might seem bizarre, however you must try it at least once. Free your mind, choose the colors, the feel, the flow you have and wear it, go outside and don't care if no one else gets it. It's true freedom.

It is common knowledge that Israel has wonderful summers, and you can find sunny weather nearly year round… slightly problematic though if you fall in love with the Japanese street fashion trend of layers.  You see, in the Japanese winter Tokyo is COLD. The more layers the warmer you feel, the more color you can add the warmer you are – simple colorful logic. I miss it, though I've got up to 4 layers here… well, thin layers ;-)

How colorful you might be asking yourself? Here are two of my favorite Japanese street fashion blogs (that make me want to jump on a plane and go back there right now…)

http://tokyofashion.com/

http://www.japanesestreets.com/

* all the photos in this post were taken from these blogs

And now I have a challenge for you –

Let's try layers… 
or anything you wish as long as you think it's different. 
I dare you to dress up with no limits and 
add the photos to your Facebook page and tag me.
Here's a link to my page
I'll post the best ones here and promise a treat for the 
one that blows my mind.

Enjoy :-)

All my LoVe,

Hila.

Cherry Blossom Dream

I've just come back from a meeting at Tikotin Museum of Japanese Art In Haifa, where I met with the curator of my exhibition. Okay, for the sake of accuracy, I met with Moran, the Shop Manager where my jewelry is going to be exhibited on a shelf with other amazing items to be purchased in the shop museum, however it’s my humble beginning being presented in the museum.  A foot in the door of fame! ;-)

Here's one of the wonderful art jewelry pieces you can get at the museum, it's a cherry blossom charm necklace from my flower jewelry.

I was wearing the necklace on the train ride back home, remembering the train rides in Tokyo, in spring with cherry trees passing by … however the announcements in Hebrew kept getting in my way of daydreaming! Instead, I took out my notebook and drew this little cherry flower for the conductor's hat. 

Do you think they'll mind wearing it?  :-)

All my LoVe,

Hila.

Memories from a trip to Kyoto

Once upon a time, while I lived in Japan I went on an enchanted trip to Kyoto.  I was determined to see some Geisha, a dream I had since reading the book "Memories of a Geisha"…so I went to Gion, where they work, and There I met these beauties. Aren't they wonderful?

I was sure these where girls, but to my surprise they turned out to be dress up guys.

A little shock at first, but as I love to draw it inspired me to draw this 

picture… 

I had wanted to see Geisha, and asked some Japanese as to their whereabouts…it turned out it was their day off, but I could not wait around for evening, what a pity.

After that, all was left was to relax… Here I am, riding a rickshaw. A rickshaw (riksha) originated from Japan and means man-powered vehicle. As you might be able to see, the guy pulling me around the streets of Gion is quite muscular, which I found a bonus, though I not sure he has the best job, hot humid and sticky, but he put a smile on for the photo none the less ;-) 

All in all, a great day! 

The sweet memory of this trip resulted in these fan earrings, layered with color, like the layers of a kimono.

Special rice paper imported from Japan creates this effect of layers, and adds the color of Kyoto to these gold plated fan earrings. 

All my LoVe,

Hila.

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The Sushi Spin Off

Those who know me know there are some things I am really passionate about, among them you will find Sushi and recycling.

Obviously Sushi can't be recycled, and the temptation to it fresh is leads to eating it. Though I can't eat raw fish, even after years in Japan, and even though the raw food movement is growing steadily… just can’t do it.

It's quite a challenge to find vegetarian Sushi in Japan, especially when you're new at it, as most menus show you only the popular fish variety. It's only when you get to know it that they stop staring at your curly hair (if that what you have, and I do) and let you in on the secrets of inari, tamago yaki, kampyo, kappa maki and the like.

The easiest way to get the sushi you want (while in Japan and searching for vegetarian sushi) was to make it myself. I would not recommend tasting my first attempts, but friends taught me, I practiced and got quite good. These days it's easier, and I even have a friend who teaches sushi in Israel (if you're here, I do recommend her sushi workshops ). Most of the time I just take advantage of any offer to go eat sushi… oiishi desu ne!

Back to the recycling issue, as I guess you'd like to know, I started collecting the Hashi -  the Japanese chopsticks, actually I have a great collection of both hashi and ware-bashi  which are the disposable type. As I prefer to recycle, not dispose of things I thought of something cool to do with them and this is the result:

If you liked this, I invite you to have fun and share with us. Go to my Facebook page and share 

photos of recycled projects you've done with Sushi or Chopsticks. The most popular ones will win a special offer discount for my Etsy Shop! :-) 

All my LoVe,

Hila.