NOVALA TAKEMOTO AND H.NAOTO HELLO KITTY CELL/KEY CHARMS.
Flyers, coupons, letters from credit card companies addressed to “Dear Recipient”… that’s about all I ever get in the mail. But today, I pulled out the most oddly-shaped package l’d ever seen; a flaccid cross between a cone and a rhombus. Not surprisingly, it came from Japan.
I ripped it open and out waltzed Hello Kitty, donned in her best Gothic Lolita. Strapya World had sent me the charms I had ordered two weeks ago. On the left: h.Naoto’s winking Hello Kitty, dressed in a bunny-eared cape and carrying a “h.N” purse. (She has a long white tail – a rarity.) On the right: “Pour Lolita Gothic Edition” by Novala Takemoto (author of Kamikaze Girls). No, I don’t know what that means either! (“Pour” means “for” in French… “For Lolita Gothic Edition”? )
I hooked both Kitties to my cell phone, although both could also hang from a key ring. Now, I’ll have a cute little reminder of Gothic Lolita wherever I am! I’m charmed by the design intricacies: the eyelashes, the anime-style eyes, the chunky heels on her shoes. All this, including shipping, cost only 1445 yen ($13.50 US).
Five stars for Strapya World’s excellent service and prices. Check out their website and search for “Gothic Lolita” – you’ll find several cellphone and keychain charms that are unavailable outside Japan.
PS: how can you NOT love Strapya World after receiving an invoice that says…
Thank you so much for your patience!
Here you go ; ) you finally got what you had waited for!
Please love the stuff and let us know if you need a help.
BTW, it’s been so chilly here in Japan these days (>_< )"
Please take care of your health and wear one more shirt and pants!
PPS: I know many of you are fellow cat lovers… here’s another video of Basil to add some kawaii to your day!
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KAWAIKO: A FRENCH GOTHIC LOLITA-INSPIRED LABEL BY CORINNE PROSE.
Paris and Tokyo are the fashion capitals of the world – so it’s no surprise that a French juniors label has sprung up that’s heavily inspired by Gothic Lolita. Designer Corinne Prose created Kawaïko (Cute Girl), a juniors brand based on styles she observed on her frequent trips to Harajuku.
The “ambassadors” of Kawaïko are four anime-style teen girls who attend a Parisian fashion school. Kima and Elea are French, Miio is Japanese and Lina is Brazilian (pictured above). The official website describes the girls’ personalities, dreams, and fashion tastes; they even have individual MySpace pages! With this stylish quartet, Kawaïko is poised to be an entire lifestyle brand. Already, the company is working with a Japanese studio to produce a short anime and full-scale series, to be broadcast in France and Japan.
Concept store Kawaïko
146 rue Saint Denis, 5002 Paris
Phone: 01 42 60 66 94
Hours: 10:30am to 7pm (7:30pm Saturdays)
Kawaïko has also opened up a flagship boutique in Paris. The store sells the brand’s clothing, as well as platform boots, accessories, manga, and J-rock CDs. If there were ever a Gothic Lolita hangout, this would be it; check out the bat-mobiles hanging from the ceiling!
I sent designer Corinne Prose a few questions in French, and she kindly responded. Here is the translation of our interview:
† How did Gothic Lolita fashion inspire the Kawaïko collection?
Whenever I visit Japan, I always take lots of photos, and I also bring back clothing. The Kawaïko collection is inspired by all of this, but it’s not a copy. I aim to create an original brand, a mix between Japanese style and European punk rock.
† Is one of the four “ambassadors” a Gothic Lolita?
In the story, Kima (above) is the girl whose style is closest to Gothic Lolita. But she mixes this with her own designs; since she doesn’t have much money, she tinkers with her clothes!
† Have you visited Tokyo?
Yes, I’ve been there over twenty times. In fact, I’ve been going there to shop since 1984, when I began my career as a stylist.
† Do you have any stories or anecdotes about Gothic Lolita culture?
The style originated about fifteen years ago in Japan. In the beginning, there was only one label, Pink House, which made very romantic dresses, with flower imprints and tons of pinks and reds. Today, this brand has disappeared. It’s the singer Mana [actually, he’s the guitarist –ed.] of the band Malice Mizer who really popularized this fashion in Japan. I think that some Japanese people think that young French girls always wear clothes like that!
† Are your clothes made by hand?
Our clothes are made in Paris, in clothing ateliers near us. We make small samples, allowing us to run styles past our clients. Our boutique is a sort of laboratory, with a basement atelier to develop prototypes and patronages.
† How have girls responded to your products?
Girls love our products, and they are selling well! It’s very encouraging to see that they appreciate what we do, and that on Saturdays, they visit our boutique dressed in Kawaïko!
Click here to read my Q&A with Corinne en Français. And if you’re keen to get your hands on these clothes, you can order items from Kawaïko’s website.
LA CARMINA
