Intercultural Design - Final Project

March 01, 2020

Intercultural Design - Final Project

(Week 6-Week 8)
Chan Qian Hui 0334447
Intercultural Design
Final Project

INSTRUCTION

FINAL PROJECT

What we found out previously:
We found out that Japanese subcultures are not a form of rebel but a form of self-expression. They self express whatever they want, more commonly seen in fashion and other art form like graffiti and sticker.

Ideation:
For our final project, we decided to create a streetwear brand based on Tokyo subculture to Malaysian audience. We wish to make this into a long term project which we can see how the self-expression of Tokyo subculture can impact can influence Malaysian audience and see the number of followers we can gather.

Our concept:
Using Tokyo Rockabilly as our overall theme, we recreate the outfits by combining elements of self-expression found in Tokyo such as graffiti, stickers and fashions with Malaysian slangs to create our own brand identity.

Concept References:

Fig 1.0 Tokyo Rockabilly

Fig 1.1 Graffiti found in Yoyogi Park

Fig 1.2 Stickers found in Tokyo

THE BRAND

Our Aim:
The Design
1. To promote Tokyo rockabilly subculture through their fashion
2. Combining elements of self expression found in Tokyo in our design. (fashion and stickers)
3. Creating a Malaysia identity in our design to make it unique

The Brand:
1. Promote Kuala Lumpur-Tokyo Fusion Design to the world

Our Brand Name:
Rok-Kyu
A streetwear brand based on Tokyo Rockabilly with a Malaysian Identity.
Motto: You do you, you Rok-Kyu.

Fig 1.3 Rok-Kyu Logo (design by Qian Hui)

The logo is inspired by vintage rock, with a vintage looking typeface and branching out from center. The top is red to symbolize Japan and the hair is a trademark of Tokyo Rockabilly which is the overall theme for our brand.

Logo Design Process:

Fig 1.4 Rok-Kyu logo process

Brand Outfit Collection:
For our brand, since our theme is based on Tokyo Rockabilly, we used denim and leather as our base outfit. Since there is 5 of us in the group, we decided to create one piece of outfit for each of us.

Leather series
1. Rok-Rimau (Leather trenchcoat)
2. Rok-a-Mess (Black Ripped Jeans)
3. Rok-in-Boots (Leather Boots)

Denim series
1. Rok-Ket (Denim jacket)
2. Rok-Jeans (Bell bottom)
3. Haraju-Kyu (Denim pants)

PROGRESS OF PROJECT

Trenchcoat design process:
Rok-Kyu’s trenchcoat design is based on Tokyo Rockabilly's outwear. Tokyo Rockabilly often have their own trademarks on the back of their outerwear, so we painted our own brand name and a tiger which represents Malaysia identity. We also painted a crescent on top which is inspired by Malaysian flag.

Fig 1.5 Sketching of design

Fig 1.6 Painting of letters

Fig 1.7 Painting of tiger

Black ripped jeans design process:

The ripped jeans was redesigned by all of us by painting it all over it together. Our design is inspired by Tokyo Graffitis and Harajuku Fashion by having a mixture of different colours and slangs drawn all over it.

Fig 1.8 Painting of pants

Fig 1.9 Process of painting the pants

Leather boots design process:

The Boots is our take on Tokyo Rockabilly’s leather boots. Our design is inspired by Tokyo stickers and Harajuku Fashion. We took our leather boots as a canvas and added colours and our own stickers to the boots to create a funky street look.

Fig 1.10 Painting of leather boots

Fig 1.11 Adding stickers to leather boots

Bell bottom and denim jacket design process:

We used the same bell bottom jeans which was originally used by Tokyo Rockabilly. We added a subtle gradient at the bottom to add a slight modern element which does not disrupt the vintage rockabilly look.

Our denim jacket is designed based on our take on self-expression. We hand painted the denim jacket with pure colours such as white and yellow which works well with the vintage concept and adds a modern twist.

Fig 1.12 Painting of denim bell bottom

Fig 1.13 Painting of denim jacket

Blue jeans design process:

The denim pants is cut and redesigned by our own group. The design is inspired by Harajuku fashion which recreates their own fashion from everyday outfits. The pants is specially cut and sewn by ourselves. The zip at the center of the pants allows wearer to zip it to the height and spiciness they prefer. Too hot? Then zip it lower. Not sexy enough? Zip it high then.

Fig 1.14 sewing of denim pants

Fig 1.15 comparison of before and after

Sticker design and cutting process:

Our Stickers are a collection of stickers packed with Malaysian slangs and inside jokes. The design of the stickers are separated into 2 categories: Rockabilly and Street stickers.

The Rockabilly sticker are based on rockabilly theme with skeletons, leather jackets, black and white to create a vintage rock look. The Street stickers are based on sticker designs found in streets of Tokyo each with their own unique take of Malaysian identity.