Anrealage Spring Summer 2025 “Wind” by Kunihiko Morinaga. Story by RUNWAY MAGAZINE. Photo Courtesy: Anrealage.
At the Spring Summer 2025 runway show, Kunihiko Morinaga, the creative force behind Anrealage, once again proved why he is one of the most forward-thinking designers in fashion. With a bold fusion of technology and artistry, Morinaga introduced his latest collection, aptly named “Wind,” where the convergence of practicality and creativity found a new frontier. Drawing inspiration from the world of “air-con clothing,” Morinaga’s designs not only captivated the audience with their aesthetic but also demonstrated a seamless integration of innovation into everyday wear.
It was impossible not to notice the dramatic bulk beneath Morinaga’s Anrealage-branded jacket, which appeared almost cartoonish. It was a testament to the groundbreaking technology hidden in plain sight: a small fan attached to the jacket’s hem, subtly inflating the garment and transforming its silhouette. This concept, though fresh on the runway, is no stranger to Japan.
Morinaga’s “Wind” collection builds on “air-con clothing,” a cooling workwear concept perfected by former Sony engineer Hiroshi Ichigaya. His company, Kuchofuku, founded in 2004, pioneered this ingenious solution to combat heat. By circulating a continuous flow of air around the body, it allows for the rapid evaporation of sweat and helps maintain a comfortable temperature. Originally developed for Japan’s weather-exposed industries, this technology has grown into a $140 million-a-year market. Now, Anrealage has reimagined it for fashion.
On the runway, Morinaga took this concept to soaring new heights. The show opened with three models dressed in loose, airy rompers in white, pink, and blue. As the fans, controlled via a mobile app, gently inflated the lightweight nylon garments, the audience was treated to a mesmerizing spectacle. The garments swelled into dramatic, buoyant shapes, drawing applause and awe.
What followed was an even more remarkable display of the artistic and technological potential behind these garments. Prints of polka dots, checks, and houndstooth patterns appeared as if blown by the wind, a visual illusion enhanced by the inflating garments. These prints, created using Kyocera’s water-free Forearth printing technology, were another nod to Morinaga’s commitment to sustainability and innovation.
The runway featured a playful section of exaggerated, oversized track jackets, but it was in the latter half of the show that Morinaga truly harnessed the creative possibilities of the Ichigaya technology. The garments, inflated to semi-abstract forms, evoked imagery of insects, flowers, birds, and coral, blurring the lines between nature and design. Nylon remained the fabric of choice, offering both the structural lightness and strength needed for these extraordinary shapes, though there was also a touch of tweed, adding texture and contrast.
In the sweltering confines of the Palais de Tokyo, the appeal of “air-con clothing” was undeniable. But Morinaga’s vision went beyond functionality. Accompanied by an energizing soundtrack composed by Jakops, the collection felt as though it was made for a dreamlike, futuristic dance floor, where each inflated piece danced and swayed in response to the ambient breeze.
More than just a collection, Anrealage’s collection is a statement—a marriage of innovation and art that challenges the boundaries of what fashion can be. By incorporating the practicality of cooling workwear into high fashion, Morinaga not only redefined the role of technology on the runway but also reminded us that fashion has the power to solve real-world problems while still evoking wonder and joy. “Wind” is not just an aesthetic revolution; it is a breath of fresh air for the fashion industry at large.