On March 28th, ANREALAGE held their 2014-15 Autumn/Winter collection show at Laforet Museum Roppongi. The invitation, sent by the brand known for its color- and shape-changing clothing, featured a thermometer with no numbers on the scale. The collection title simply read "SEASON." Designer Kunihiko Morinaga said he wanted "clothing that is not affected by the seasons." Morinaga's question was whether clothing itself could regulate its own temperature. The answer came from Outlast, a functional material developed for NASA. Paraffin wax encapsulated in microcapsules in the fabric absorbs excess heat when it's hot and releases it when it's cold, maintaining the body's surface temperature at a comfortable 31-33 degrees Celsius. Most of the materials used in the collection are directly coated with these microcapsules, Morinaga explained, "ensuring that their temperature-regulating properties are 10 times more effective than usual."
The show began with a flurry of falling snow. The first look featured three blue pieces. As the show progressed, the garments gradually shifted to yellow and orange, raising the color temperature. These colors were taken from images taken with a thermal imaging camera, which visualizes temperature. The styling also shifted in tandem with the color palette, from short sleeves and miniskirts to wintery looks featuring knitwear and oversized, heavy outerwear. Fall/winter fabrics like glen plaid and cable knit were printed. The fur and melton fabrics were riddled with countless holes created by cutwork, rendering them useless as insulation.
The final look featured a model wearing a red fur top and skirt. The top featured slashes. This marked the beginning of a typical ANREALAGE performance. The lights dimmed, casting a dazzling light on the model. The heat from the light caused the slashes in the top to open, revealing countless holes. This is made possible by wires that change shape with temperature. Morinaga finally visualized the concept of "clothes that change with temperature."
Studs and other parts that evoke ice, which symbolize the cold, were created by MUD SNAIL, and the bags are a collaboration with PORTER. Also, starting this season, a new line called "ANSEASON ANREALAGE" will be launched. Morinaga says, "This line transforms collections that were released each season and were temporary into permanent items."
