United Arrows, collaborator

In this ensemble, styled by Motofumi "Poggy" Kogi, the Hello Kitty character takes in London's sights and serenly drinks tea amidst a whirlwind of pattern and color. A collaboration between Sanrio's Hello Kitty and Liberty of London, the fabric reflects a long history of exchange. Liberty textiles, inspired in the late 19th century by East Asian design, became a fad in 1970s Japan as consumers there embraced aspects of the British lifestyle. This suit, a joint venture with the Japanese retail giant United Arrows, completes that circle. United Arrows and other contemporary Japanese design firms have tapped into the shared vision of the English dandy in response to the subcultural dandified styles that have burgeoned in urban Japan since the 1900s.