KOHEI

中国や韓国系モデルが目立つ中、1人の日本人モデルが活躍しているではないか。フィレンツェ(J.W.アンダーソン)、ミラノ(プラダ、ドルチェ&ガッパーナ)、パリ(バレンシアガ、コム デ ギャルソン、ルイ・ヴィトン)と計18ブランドに登場したBE NATURAL所属のメンズモデル「コウヘイ(KOHEI)」。

予算を抑えるために外国人(白人)モデルばかりを起用した日本のファッション誌、パリやミラノではアジア系モデルが大活躍。日本人を含む全員アジア系モデル(男女双方)を起用したケンゾーの2018年春夏コレクション。身長はもちろん、個性的な顔立ち、努力、と個々の武器を発揮しアジアンスターたち。次なる日本人メンズモデルに注目を。

Louis Vuitton

Japan has a new male model rising, the first one in quite some time. Kohei, from domestic agency Be Natural had a stellar Spring/Summer 2018 season in Europe walking for 18 top ticket shows in Florence (J.W Anderson), Milan (Prada, Dolce & Gabbana) and Paris (Balenciaga, Commes des Garcons, Louis Vuitton) (all pictured above).

There are a lot of models pulling in multiple shows per season yet this accomplishment has alluded Japanese models (both male and female) who lag behind the talent coming from China and Korea. Whilst some point at the physicality and presence of non-Japanese Asian models, another reason is the platform afforded models in those countries with high fashion print press. Japanese fashion editorial uses foreign (white) models in low budget editorials which barely make it off the page and online where the majority of the audience now consumes fashion. This online profile and subsequent tagging earns online fandom and followings for models which is becoming an increasingly important factor of models being casted for shows. So congratulations to Kohei, who achieved this before reaching 1,000 followers on his instagram.