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Char's |
| Winter in Hokkaido. Time for yummy fresh seafood, skiing, enjoying onsen, and of course the Snow Festival. But there is something in Hokkaido I bet you didn't count on. In Jiyugaoka (remember: Hokkaido not Tokyo) the shop called Chars is melting your crisp winter's frost with one jewel of a fashion line. |
| Char's was created by designer/stylist/all-around creative genius Char Akiyama. After working on countless commercials, movies, and concerts, Char decided to start a fashion line and (as the heading on the site says) "bring Hokkaido's Obihiro City to the World". In pursuit of that goal, the brand has hit tradeshows both in and out of Japan, and even had a booth in the uber-exclusive edge*NY in Noho, New York City. How exclusive, you ask? An interesting bit of trivia for fans of the fashion TV series Project Runway: edge*NY is the same place where booted-off contender Carmen Webber is currently previewing her new brand, Sistahs Of Harlem. How is that for trendy? |
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| Hokkaido still not sounding like a fashion-forward destination to you? Well, checking Chars' website, it doesn't seem like anything out of the box for Japanese fare. At least not at first. But the endearing, down-to-earth nature of Char Akiyama's pieces (no doubt coming from the laidback ambience of Japan's northernmost area) are what wins you over. |
| My favorite items? One: The Original Trenchcoat, which the site describes as "tailored for a man but for lady-like cool". The best feature is the zebra striping around the neckline under the up-turned collar. |
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| Two: The Pink Fringe-worn Pom-Pom Long Necklace, a piece so very unique and noteworthy it had to be mentioned. |  |
An added bonus with Chars' homepage-the designer gives 'how-tos' for the fashionably-challenged. There is "To Seek Comfort and Beauty" (Kiyasusa to utsukushisa wo motomete) and "Char's Important Things To Remember" (Char's ga taisetsu ni shite iru koto). These small tutorials give online shoppers the knowledge of how to shop for their needs, personal styles and looks--such as amplifying your bustline and achieving clean lines. 
It may be still very cold outside, but in Hokkaido, Char's is probably in terms of fashion the hottest thing around.  www.chars.jpⅡ-Ⅱ-3 Jiyugaoka street 1-2-1 Jiyugaoka Obihiro-city Kim Gillus |
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presented by Japan-Fashion.com 2008
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