Verdy Brings Tokyo to LA: The Start of a New Era
Japan was under the spotlight from the 1990s to the late 2000s thanks to its forward-thinking designers and artists who revolutionized streetwear and reinvented high fashion.
Big names like Yohji Yamamoto and Issey Miyake were in every haute couture conversation, and people like Nigo imported the massive soft power of the tiny archipelagos, and the even tinier neighborhood of Urahara, on a global scale. Most fashion fanatics know about the rise and fall of the Harajuku styles and Tokyo’s latest stagnancy in the world of fashion, but this year’s Complexcon is here to prove otherwise.
ComplexCon is a festival in California celebrating upcoming and legendary artists and creators alike, whether it be in the field of sneakers, music, food, style, etc. Each year, a new creative director is assigned to curate the weekend-long event and 2022 saw the charismatic Verdy in this position. It’s a known fact that the Japanese graphic artist is absolutely loved by the world and particularly praised by his home country, whether it’s for his evergreen smile or for his nostalgic yet innovative designs. It’s for this reason that Verdy stands at the core of Tokyo’s street culture, and pushes out the most talented creators at the forefront.
Along with him, ComplexCon presented some of the most prized Japanese brands that have yet to make their international debut. BoTT, Car Service, Yagi Exhibition, Agnes Kruel, Tokyo Vitamin, and more were participating, promising a revival of Tokyo’s street scene taking over the world as it did two decades ago. Rapper Young Coco and Okinawan singer-songwriter Grace Aimi performed as well, representing further the infinite youth, creativity, and energy that this scene has.
Verdy has shown his love for this community tirelessly and it seems like his efforts are foreshadowing a launch of this revamped street culture. He will inevitably go down in history as the symbol for this era of Tokyo, for the sake of its streetwear, culture, music, and art.
