Patchwork detailing and a mishmash of unexpected fabrics featured prominently in Norio Sato and Seishi Naito’s strong collection for Coté Mer. Sato said that without a firm concept in mind, he and Naito began piecing together fabrics they found in their factory. While that creative process might sound haphazard, it resulted in one of the more focused and directional men’s shows of Tokyo Fashion Week.
A sporty vibe dominated: football jerseys were reinvented with patches of vintage kimono material and sweatpants featured satin tuxedo stripes down the sides. Looks with a harder edge included a bonded-jersey motorcycle jacket with contrasting panels of black leather and metallic gold obi fabric. Among the strongest pieces were the designers’ distinctive takes on everyday items like T-shirts and sweatshirts. With asymmetric hems, sheer panels, metallic sleeves and a hodgepodge of colors and textures, they were anything but basic.