Ayaka Oshita Spring/Summer 2026 at Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo

Ayaka Oshita Spring/Summer 2026 / SS26 for Global Fashion Collective at Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo

Global Fashion Collective, representing Japan was Ayaka Oshita, winner of the 96th Soen Award. She presented a new collection of 15 pieces under the theme of “Metamorphose.”

Ayaka Oshita, who has been active as a designer since her student days, participated in the event after winning the 96th Soen Award. Her “Metamorphose” collection, presented this time, is themed around emotional liberation: when repressed change is released and inner impulses finally take shape. Dreamy elements such as feather-like silhouettes, loose ribbons, ripped fabric, and ivy-like embroidery symbolize freedom, change, and birth.

■Thoughts on this Collection and Show

The theme of this collection is “Metamorphose.” Extending wings, budding buds, rising waves of emotion, overflowing impulses and hopes that are suppressed, swallowed down, and smoldering deep within. This collection expresses the moment of transformation and liberation when such impulses finally overflow and burst forth, a moment of transformation and liberation.

■What was the focus of this show?

In order to express details in line with the theme, all 15 figures featured details such as flowers growing out of the gaps in torn fabric, or wing-like details growing from the back, which give the impression of something slightly otherworldly bursting out, or breaking through a shell.

■What is your source of inspiration for clothing and design?

While clothes are a tool for self-expression, they can also be used to hide one’s true self. Even in today’s diverse world, I believe there are many people who pretend to be someone they’re not, out of fear or anxiety about whether their true self will be accepted or scorned. However, what kind people who feel such fear and anxiety hide deep within them must surely be beautiful. The message is to try to be more like living beings and more emotional.

■Please tell us if there were any challenges or difficulties in designing this collection.

I normally love detailed handwork and enjoy the challenges, but attaching hundreds of tiny sequins to all 15 dolls was a challenge. And when you choose the theme of the invisible, you have to share that with the audience, so I spent a lot of time figuring out how to incorporate this theme into the clothes, through trial and error.

■Future Outlook

I’ve been working as a designer until now, but up until now I’ve mostly had clients and created things that met their requests, without much thought about expressing my own originality. However, this time, I created a piece that really brought my individuality to the forefront, and I realized that this is what I’m best at, and I want to continue doing it. I hope to continue interacting with people, continue creating unique pieces, and find opportunities to present my own original items.