YOSHIKIMONO, a kimono brand produced by X-JAPAN's YOSHIKI, presented its 17SS collection on October 17th during Amazon Fashion Week TOKYO 2017 S/S. Drawing on his roots as the son of a kimono shop owner, YOSHIKI continues to enthusiastically challenge himself to create kimono that transcends traditional Japanese clothing. A piano and drums were placed at the front and middle of the runway, and while YOSHIKI performed live, models clad in dazzling kimonos swarmed the venue, creating a lively atmosphere. "After living abroad for over 20 years, I have come to appreciate the beauty of Japanese culture once again. My family owns a kimono shop, so my mother wore kimonos on a daily basis. That's why I launched YOSHIKIMONO," YOSHIKI said. "My desire to incorporate rock elements into the traditional Japanese garment, kimono, and create a fashion statement that could be accepted globally, was the backdrop for launching the brand." The show featured 21 styles, all based on the concept of "kimono worn like an evening dress." These included kimonos lavishly embellished with rock motifs like crimson, metallic colors, skulls, python prints, and roses, as well as off-the-shoulder, mini-length one-piece kimonos and a see-through vinyl kimono with an artistic design. Midway through the show, heavy rain poured down from the ceiling while YOSHIKI continued playing drums. The show concluded with a sexually charged visual of thin fabric clinging to the models' pale skin intertwined with the thunderous sound of the drums. YOSHIKI reflected on the show, saying, "I was shocked when I saw the rain effect at the Alexander McQueen show. Since music is merely a supporting role, I improvised on piano and drums." When asked why he appointed stylist Tomoki Sukezane as supervisor this time, he replied, "I wanted to preserve the way a kimono is worn and the beauty of its lines. It's the same with music, if you go too far it becomes conservative. I asked him to be someone who can share my sense of where the line is between being sophisticated and not too casual." He concluded by saying, "My idea of 'KIMONO' may be met with mixed reactions, but that's fine. That's always the case with art. I'm grateful to have been able to hold another show like last year, and I want to continue challenging myself to make kimono known to more people."