Designer Tsumura Kosuke held a seminar entitled "Mode and Textiles: Fashion is the Aesthetics of Deviance" at the Tokyo International Forum on November 20th. The seminar took place at the JFW-JC FORUM during JFW JAPAN CREATION 2014. The seminar examined fashion and textiles based on the idea that "textiles are not only the materials used to make clothing, but also the materials that compose space." In the seminar, Tsumura talked about the past and present of fashion, citing examples such as mod coats, Aran sweaters, duffle coats, trench coats, and military looks. He said, "Fashion was originally something that belonged to the aristocracy. However, as young people began to take the lead in fashion, trench coats for entering the trenches became fashionable, and it has taken on a context that is different from its original function and meaning. Recently, the line between cosplay and collecting has disappeared. Communication and games using IT tools like smartphones have played a role in making the boring everyday life that fashion once played a role in, and we are now living in an age where fashion is more fun than dressing up. Furthermore, punk fashion showed that no special skills are required and that anyone can express themselves, but in recent years, even in art, there has been a trend toward automatic transformation, where artists do not decide on the composition and express their inner self, and the time is not far off when anyone can make clothes with 3D printers." "Fashion designers should also consider the relationship between the environment and fashion. The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and the Great East Japan Earthquake, which occurred the year after we created Final Home, made me realize that fashion is not just functional; it also energizes people, and that even in emergencies, we need colorful clothing that provides emotional support. Wanting to wear clothes also means wanting to wear mood, warmth, and information. It's okay to have heavy clothing that strengthens the body, not just light clothing that feels like you're not wearing anything." She also shared her unique ideas, saying, "I was asked to design diapers, so I created boxer trunks with an internal structure like a diaper for the elderly. At the same time, I also made paper tank tops and T-shirts for younger people. I hope that by working long-term on paper from a young age, people will no longer be hesitant to wear paper underwear." She also introduced the brand's activities, including a workshop using puzzle pieces made from Buchi-Puchi® and a show held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in October. He continued, "Product design is about solving problems, and it must be complete, including distribution. However, fashion is also an art, and the fact that it is incomplete can be part of its appeal. There is no need to think of textiles as just the material for clothing. They can be brought back to life by changing the setting, and can become 10 or 100 times more valuable depending on the era and presentation. It is also necessary to train yourself not to be bound by stereotypes."