Hibiscus is a flower synonyms with Hawaii and the South Pacific islands. In Japan it’s regarded as “sensitive beauty, and “new love” according to Japanese “hanakotoba” (language of flowers). I always enjoy seeing them in-bloom for most of the summer in Japan, usually visible in residential street gardens. They are a very popular flower in Japan as the climate suits them well and they are easy to raise and care for. There are also a few species endemic to Japan. They are also the a part of gyaru street culture fashion that was most prevalent during the late 1990s to early 2000s. (please take the time to look-up “gyaru” if you are not familiar)
Alba Rosa was a brand that was popular among gyaru. Their logo featured a Hawaiian hibiscus, as its the state flower (of Hawaii) also its a symbolic flower in Hawaiian culture and endemic to the island. They really adore the laid-back Hawaiian lifestyle. What you may not find out through your online reading of gyaru is that they are stereotyped as uneducated and lewd and tacky. I however, appreciate their contributions to Japanese society through fashion and subculture. They have their own unique aura and easily recognizable by their bleached hairdos and wild make-up. They really like to emulate a care-free laidback beach attitude lifestyle. Often wearing Hello Kitty slippers with fluffy socks, or flip-flops. Their fashion sense is usually always somewhere tied to the beach or ocean in someway… even in winter they manage to look very cozy and adorable. I feel that they are not so much of a nuisance as your average person here might convey them, but an adorable and open and accepting subculture-group of people. They also really like tanning beds…
In my constant pursuit of interesting bandanna designs I came upon the idea of a style that balanced out in a weird way. Contemplating over the queens of Japanese street fashion, gyaru, and placing them in the epicenter of runway-ridiculousness, Paris; seemed like the perfect balance of aesthetic. The design of this monstrosity is centered around that age old symbol for gyaru, the hibiscus. Featuring a few different species that looked nice on a two dimensional surface. The leaves added a background texture that exudes the social status of many famous Paris fashion houses. The outside edge should be triggering some images of Art Nouveau for the viewer. The color palette chosen for this one was aimed at stirring the feelings of summer but summer all-year-round. Like our friends the gyaru. We hope you enjoy this one as much as our previous offerings. So please we implore you to take this one ridiculously, and wear/use it in any way you see fit.