DRESS CODE is the entrancing result of the recent collaboration of two Japanese designers, both now long-time residents of Australia. It marries the vision of world-renowned fashion designer Akira Isogawa with the minimalist elan of emerging furniture designer Fukutoshi Ueno.

DRESS CODE implants several of Akira's kimono-inspired designs on Fukutoshi's arresting and acclaimed furniture piece, CODE. In this collaboration, their powerful personalities play off of each other to create a new direction that raises the stakes of design to a level nothing short of the inspired. The creations of DRESS CODE embody a cool dialogue of Akira's lyricism with Fukutoshi's elegant minimalism.

Like most of the work of these two designers, CODE and DRESS CODE stretch back into Japanese antiquity whilst looking forward to a cosmopolitan future. CODE was inspired by the series of symbols assigned to the various mistresses of the 11th century Japanese nobleman, Hikaru Genji. Taking the symbols as the physical and philosophical basis of his furniture design, Fukutoshi has given them flesh in three dimensional pieces. At the same time, they can come to symbolize the individuality of their owners and their contemporary lifestyles.

Expertly crafted by Brisbane furniture maker Will Marx, each piece of DRESS CODE comes individually numbered with a signed certificate. CODE pieces are constructed of heirloom woods such as rosewood, silver ash, or Tasmanian oak, and the superb finishes and immaculate joinery impart an impression of quiet, yet breath-taking elegance. With Akira's striking kimono-inspired designs, DRESS CODE explodes with vivid flashes of the geisha, the tattoo, and even manga comic images, while touching the surface of a DRESS CODE piece delivers the sensual pleasure of stroking a bolt of silk.

ARTISTS' COMMENTS

When I first came to Sydney in 1986, I remember looking at kimono fabric and I realised how different it appeared under the bright intensity of the Australian sun. I began to see the kimono as a modern idea, not just something buried in tradition. This inspired me to use the kimono tradition in a collection of women's fashion designs. I hope my translation of a traditional textile into this different form and medium--the DRESS CODE collection--will express the same sense of timelessness, luxuriousness and modernity in space. I hope it will stir the emotions and inspire people to great heights.
Akira Isogawa

"Functionality doesn't have to come at the cost of sensuality, in fact their fusion arrives at the very soul of the classic. At the same time we were able to provide an insight into aspects of traditional Japanese culture."
Fukutoshi Ueno

DRESS CODE has been developed with the assistance of a special grant to Fukutoshi Ueno from Arts Queensland. It will have its first appearance at 100% Design Tokyo in late October 2008, then in Sydney as part of the millennial tribute to "The Shining Prince", as Genji was known in traditional Japanese literature, at the Art Gallery of New South Wales (12 December 2008 through 22 February 2009). Further appearances within Australia and internationally are scheduled through 2010.