While the public release and materials only stated that the collection was an "homage to a beloved artist," the first look clearly indicated that the artist in question was Matisse. Hiroko Koshino's 2016 Spring/Summer collection took place at Ebisu Garden Hall on the 15th. A flood of colors inspired by Matisse's papercuts blossomed down the runway, transformed into various floral prints and laser-cut motifs. The collection, which mixed floral, botanical, and animal prints, perfectly captured the theme of a "surreal art book." The collection featured luxurious materials and finishes utilizing cutting-edge technology, such as glossy coatings, punching, lamination, and heat-cut scallops. The finale, a white silk dress with hand-painted ink-bleached dragonflies, was a thick art book packed with clothing techniques. This marked the first time in Hiroko Koshino's long history that a Matisse theme had been chosen. "It's a theme that's easy to incorporate into clothing, so I haven't done it before," designer Koshino Hiroko revealed after the show. "I thought it might be interesting to use a slightly more blunt expression now," she said with a laugh. She spoke emphatically about her next collection, saying, "I'll be returning to my roots."

Text: Noda Tatsuya