Madeleine Vionnet, Evening dress, 1929

If you happen to be in Kyoto, and need a break from the temples, tea houses and rock gardens, then you might want to consider the Kyoto Costume Institute. While the name Kyoto Costume Institute instantly conjures up images of kimono and traditional Japanese garments, in fact, it is the only museum in Japan that specializes in the study and collection of non-Japanese dress.

As most Japanese now reserve their traditional dress of kimono for special occasions, Western fashion has been completely integrated into Japanese culture. The Kyoto Costume Institute celebrates Western fashion, both in the historical and contemporary contexts.

Established in 1978 with the support of the Wacoal Company, a lingerie manufacturer, the Kyoto Costume Institute has one of the world's most extensive collections of Western fashion and fashion accessories including shoes, handbags, hairclips and jewelry.

With over 10,000 items ranging from the early 18th Century to present, the Kyoto Costume Institute, known as the KCI, features yearly exhibitions at the KCI Gallery, and at other contemporary art galleries and museums in Japan and overseas. Located on the fifth floor of the Wacoal Building at Nishioji Station on the JR train line near central Kyoto, the KCI also offers annual lectures and discussions on contemporary fashion.

While their collection is not readily available for public viewing, an extensive high-resolution digital archive in both Japanese and English can be accessed in their library through advanced booking.

From April 29th to June 20th 2004, the Kyoto Costume Institute, in conjunction with the Kyoto Museum of Modern Art, will host an exhibition entitled, "Fashion in Colors" with Viktor and Rolf. Featured at the Kyoto Museum of Modern Art in Higashiyama, Kyoto, the upcoming exhibition is a collaboration of head curator and director of KCI, Akiko Fukai, and eminent Dutch fashion designers, Viktor and Rolf.

FASHION IN COLORS - VIKTOR&ROLF&KCI - in Kyoto

Although there has been extensive scholarly research regarding the many historical, cultural, social and contemporary application and use of color in non-Japanese fashion for the exhibition, "Colors" aims to be a visual journey through a rainbow of hues. The exhibition design will be based around five different "themes" of color chosen by Viktor and Rolf: red, blue, black, white and multicolor.

Each section will feature contemporary and historical examples of fashion from the KCI collection including examples by Issey Miyake, Jun Watanabe, Chanel, Dolce and Gabbana, and Vivenne Westwood. It will also showcase some of the latest designs of duo, Viktor and Rolf, who have never before been shown in Japan.

In conjunction with the exhibition, there will be a series of lectures on "Color" related topics. The price of admission is 1200 Yen, and entry to the lecture series is included in the ticket.

If you miss the "Fashion in Colors" exhibition in Kyoto, fear not, as the exhibition will also be shown at the Mori Art Museum, in Tokyo, this coming August. For more information about the Kyoto Costume Institute or their upcoming exhibition, please contact the KCI website.