World Style / Denim, pleats & textile detail
The details behind a good choice.
Explore Japanese denim, pleated clothing and Arimatsu shibori alongside portfolio research and everyday styling. Look at construction, movement and provenance before translating a reference into something you wear or photograph.
Explore the 5 guidesThe Cast Index Desk · Updated
Find your starting point
Shopping for a garment? Start with denim fit or the pleats guide and check the individual maker’s instructions. Sourcing a textile for a shoot? Read the shibori guide before writing the credit. The portfolio and technical-shoe guides then help you build an outfit around one clear idea, without treating Japanese fashion as a single look.
The complete country edit
The Cast Index guide / 3 min read
Build an original model portfolio concept from fashion coverage with a clear silhouette, movement plan, wardrobe budget and usable shot list.
Read the guide: How to Turn Japanese Fashion Coverage Into a Portfolio BriefThe Cast Index guide / 3 min read
Adapt the contrast seen in Japanese fashion coverage with a repeatable outfit method that balances texture, shoe scale, colour and movement.
Read the guide: Soft Styling and Technical Shoes: A Practical Outfit GuideThe Cast Index guide / 5 min read
Compare Japanese denim through garment measurements, wash state, movement and care, with a practical checklist for buying a pair you will wear.
Read the guide: Japanese Denim Buying Guide: Fit, Finish and First-Wash QuestionsThe Cast Index guide / 5 min read
Choose and photograph pleated clothing with a clear fit check, movement sequence and product-specific care plan, informed by Issey Miyake’s construction.
Read the guide: Pleated Clothing: Fit, Movement and Care Lessons From Issey MiyakeThe Cast Index guide / 5 min read
Understand Arimatsu-Narumi shibori, ask useful maker questions and plan an outfit or textile story that shows the cloth without overstating its provenance.
Read the guide: Arimatsu Shibori: How to Buy, Style and Credit Resist-Dyed ClothSupporting sources appear at the end of each guide. Image credits and editorial illustration details.
