(Un)known Hiroko Koshino

Hiroko Koshino has stood at the forefront of Japanese fashion for more than half a century. Born in Osaka in 1937, she first gained attention while studying at Tokyo’s Bunka Fashion College, where she won first prize in a prestigious design competition. Since opening her haute couture atelier in her home town in 1964, Koshino has built an international career, presenting collections in Tokyo, Rome, Paris and Shanghai. Known for her bold silhouettes and experimental spirit, she has expanded the boundaries of fashion through collaborations across art, music and design.

‘(Un)known Hiroko Koshino’ at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo reexamines the designer’s vast body of work from a contemporary perspective. Drawing on creations spanning more than five decades, the exhibition explores how Koshino has responded to shifting social conditions and cultural contexts while continually reinventing herself.

Moving beyond familiar images of brand identity, the show highlights Koshino as an artist driven by critical inquiry. Garments, artworks and archival materials reveal the breadth of her creative practice, which extends to painting, calligraphy and ceramics.

The exhibition also features works produced by children participating in the Kids’ Fashion Project, part of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s Next Creation Program. By bringing together professional and emerging creativity, the exhibition celebrates fashion as a living, evolving cultural expression.