WATARU TOMINAGA is an eponymous Japanese fashion brand founded in 2019. With a large emphasis on experimental prints, which incorporate hand-drawn elements coupled with the visual manipulations of printed textiles through hand-pleating, the designer longs to create garments that are both transportive and referential of times past. WATARU TOM-INAGA offers unisex, casual design with playful prints inspired by the rich history of printmaking in menswear and womenswear, as well as textiles intended for the home.
The designer’s Fall-Winter 2021-2022 collection is derivative of the colors, textures, and aged patinas of vintage pieces from the 70s-90s, sourced from all over the world during his global expeditions. Tominaga is most interested in the culture clash of various styles and backgrounds, merging distinct nuances to produce pieces that are conspicuous yet harmonious. Details of a racing jacket, paired with a marble print textile or a photo-printed de-sign from a foreign land, are examples of the dynamic tension the designer hopes to project. He aims to create a playful collection of retro, yet contemporary, pieces with utilitarian details. His work is the true embodiment of eclecticism.
