The traditional fashion circuit often prioritizes exclusivity, but Fashion Week Brooklyn — also known as FWBK — aims to make the industry more accessible. The biannual event, which first took place in 2006, functions as a hub for designers who draw inspiration from the iconic, ever-evolving borough; over the course of two decades, it’s grown into a globally recognized platform for international talent, showing collections from emerging and established designers from around the world.
Over the years, a number of Japanese designers and boutiques have appeared on the runway at FWBK. In this fashion shoot, we’re spotlighting two: Kanagawa-based upcycling fashion brand Momoyo Stoby and Velvet Tokyo, a select shop in Shimokitazawa. This editorial was directed by Fashion Week Brooklyn’s creative director, Rick Davy. “We shaped the narrative by treating Japanese craftsmanship and Brooklyn creativity as equals in dialogue, not as influences competing for space,” he tells TW. “Japanese craftsmanship carries discipline, restraint and an almost spiritual relationship to process. Brooklyn’s creative identity is expressive, layered and unapologetically lived-in.”
Momoyo Stoby
Founded in 2021 in the coastal town of Manazuru, Kanagawa, Momoyo Stoby Fashion revolves around the philosophy of wabi-sabi, an aesthetic that finds beauty in imperfection and impermanence, where, for instance, the natural fading of a fabric is celebrated as a mark of history rather than a flaw. Designer Momoyo Stoby enhances vintage textiles — Showa-era tenugui towels, for instance — with traditional persimmon tannin dyeing, creating pieces that feel both nostalgic and entirely new.
After successful showings at the NY Now trade show and Fashion Week Brooklyn, the brand continues to share its unique fusion of upcycled craftsmanship and Japanese heritage with an international audience.
Creative director: Rick Davy
Fashion director/stylist: Rahel Tadesse
Photographer: Renan Nishimura
Hairstylist: Michiko Kubota
Makeup artist: Anne Ogasawara
Models: Reyna Ozawa and Akari Natsui
HMU curated by House of Annex
Location: Street in Shibuya
Velvet Tokyo
Located in the heart of Shimokitazawa, Velvet has spent the last decade blurring the lines between the archival and the contemporary. Since opening its doors in 2015, the boutique has revolved around both handpicked vintage pieces and original collections, rejecting the idea that they should be kept separate. To Velvet, great design is something that transcends its era. Every item is selected simply for its beauty and character; the shop sells garments that feel classic and timeless alongside bold, avant-garde pieces.
Creative director: Rick Davy
Fashion director/stylist: Rahel Tadesse
Photographer: Renan Nishimura
Hairstylist: Michiko Kubota
Makeup artist: Anne Ogasawara
Models: Reyna Ozawa, Yasmin, Giulia, Cameron MacDonald, Kieran Finch
HMU curated by House of Annex
Location: Velvet Tokyo
