Where in the world is the fashion capital? Some people may say Paris while others say Italy. I say Tokyo. Why? Styles from Tokyo are very avant-garde and yet it’s so underrated. These styles are often a mixture of traditional and futuristic trends. When I think of Tokyo, I think of innovation, cutting edge, wild and outside-the-box trends. When it comes down to style, Tokyo is the epitome of self-expression.

Many great fashion designers are from Tokyo: Rei Kawakubo, the designer behind Comme des Garçons, Issey Miyake and Kenzo Takada, to name a few. Each one of these designers has helped shape the fashion industry to what it is has evolved to today. Look out for Tokyo’s fashion week in March.

As I continue to walk the streets of Manhattan, Hiroto Sugawara instantly caught my eye.

Sugawara, or as many people know him by his street name, “Stupid Fresh,” is the Style Eye of the week.

RD: Define style in one

word.

HS: Rad!

RD: Mr. Fresh, please explain your style.

HS: Well, I started to do the new rave style about three or four years ago. Then I switched off to a more creative, crazy-ass style: wearing whatever is fresh.

RD: What brought you to New York from Tokyo?

HS: I wanted to become a fashion designer. Now I’m in college studying to become a textile designer, and I’m also a DJ.

RD: What’s your opinion of New York’s fashion scene, that is, do you find it inspirational?

HS: I’m from Tokyo so I have a different aspect of street fashion in New York. To me, people here go by trends by following some kind of hype. Where I come from, fashion is more over-minded.

Keep in mind: Style is the freedom of expression.

Contact Style Eye reporter Remah Doleh at [email protected].