I International Forum

Theme

Cultural Fusion in Diaspora: Ethnic Costume, Fashion, and CultureWear

Purpose

As we approach the second decade of the 21st Century, the migration of various peoples globally continues to accelerate rapidly, resulting in the fusion of cultural and societal influences in many parts of the world. In many countries and regions, as traditional costumes disappear from everyday life, international and cultural influences ensuing from the migration of people are helping to reshape societal frameworks and inspiring new customs and trends in dress.. This forum aims to explore the current environment and the ongoing integration of cultures through Diaspora as exhibited through costumes and clothing. It is hoped that this forum will also help generate ideas and advance the development of a new comprehensive, multi-cultural Diaspora Museum.

Program

Venue: Seminar Room No. 4, National Museum of Ethnology (Minpaku)

August 27 (Friday)

Keynote Speeches Chair: Hirochika Nakamaki, Professor of Minpaku

Session I: Diaspora as Forces for Creating New Culture Chair: Toshio Asakura, Professor of Minpaku

Session II: Exploration of CultureWear Chair: Yoshio Sugimoto, Professor of Minpaku

August 28 (Saturday)

Session III: Exploration of CultureWear (Continued) Chair: Chen Tien-shi, Associate Professor of Minpaku

Session IV: Prospects of the Business Model for CultureWear Chair: Koichiro Hioki, Professor of Kyoto University

General Discussion Chairs:Hirochika Nakamaki, Professor of Minpaku
Hesung Chun Koh, Chair, East Rock Institute; Director Emerita, East Asian Research, HRAF, Yale University

II Show with Explanation on CultureWear: Wearing Culture and Mindnd

August 29 (Sunday)

• Venue: Auditorium, Minpaku
• Admission: Free
• Contact: Prof. Nakamaki's Office, 06-6876-2151

Download the flyer［PDF:225KB］

CultureWear
CultureWear is a creative venture dedicated to designing children's attire by blending ethnic and cultural flair with modern design. The purpose is to educate and inspire not only children, but also communities world-wide through fashion-forward cultural exchange. It is also an international movement focused on increasing cultural competency. Through the utilization of gently used clothes to refashion children's clothing, it also acts as a green movement.

The CultureWear movement was proposed and initiated by Dr. Hesung Chun Koh, Chair of the East Rock Institute, who is a Korean American living in the United States. The ultimate aim of the CultureWear movement is to help the development of a comprehensive, multi-culture Diaspora Museum that meets the demand of growing numbers of multi-cultural families and communities resulting from immigration and globalization.

There will be a CultureWear fashion show of garments modeled by Japanese children. Approximately 30 different newly designed garments, incorporating the traditional motifs of eight different immigrant groups now living in Japan will be displayed. These CultureWear garments were newly designed and created by members of Sungshin Women's University Textile and Clothing Department in Seoul, Korea. A cultural explanation of each CultureWear item will accompany the runway fashion show.