Channeling Charaf Tajer’s personal trips to Japan, Casablanca’s SS22 collection is a colorful ode to the land of the rising sun – a shot further afield than the conventional French Riviera. This is the second occasion that the brand has showcased Menswear and Womenswear together, in a holistic effort blending conventional gender boundaries and following a united set of design sensibilities.
We see color-laden tracksuits and camp collar shirts paired with characteristic silk neck ties in eclectic prints, luggage options pulling inspiration from the iconic Bento Box, as well as playful accessories like earrings, sunglasses and rings; all of the above feature Casablanca’s red diamond motif, be it a center-chest adornment on knitwear, or more subtle branding on accessories. Models are spotted walking through both colorful and dimly-lit, shadow-casting settings, playing ping pong or sitting on cars and motorcycles one would see parked up on a Harajuku street corner, surrounded by gaijin taking photos at midnight.
A short video depicts models in opulent, provocative yet heavily sport-infused pieces under the name “Masao San” – an ode to Tajer’s close Japanese friend who introduced him to another side of Tokyo, namely ping pong, salarymen and Sony’s 90’s workforce. In Tajer’s words, “Japan is a foundation for me in terms of iconography in general, and the way [the Japanese people] think, and the way they are dedicated to what they do,” with the 3-minute long video alluding to vintage Japanese television ads through text overlays like “Sugoi” (meaning “amazing”) and so on. Combining this with garmenture inspirations from the Memphis movement that came from Milan in the 80’s – lauded by Karl Lagerfeld – we get a unique fusion of the oriental and continental in what is a captivating, albeit short and sweet, collection showcase.
