THE FASHION FANATIC

Japanophile, a word that describes people who especially admire and like Japan or Japanese ways. Our A-List alumni, Jim Chuah, is a Japanophile, except he collects fashion pieces. Known for his love for all things fashion, especially Nippon fashion̶we paid him a visit at his humble abode for this particular feature story. There, he unveiled his closet - from one clothing rack specially for Comme des Garçons pieces to another filled with items from Issey Miyake. The 30-year-old animation and motion graphic designer is the founder of FNL PRJCT, which you may have come across through various TEDx events. Jim’s creativity isn’t only limited to his designs, but also influences his dressing.

We speak to Jim Chuah about his collections and a real special story related to one of his pieces.

What is something you’d like our readers to know?

I love Japanese fashion, I am obsessed with Comme des Garçons (CDG) and am a big fan of Rei Kawakubo, a Japanese designer and founder of Comme des Garçons.

So, tell us, when did it all begin?

I was 23 years old when I learned about CDG when I was travelling to Bangkok. I walked past a number of CDG stores in Gaysorn Village, and

I was utterly confused by their garments. It was the Look 21 from the Comme des Garçons SS15’s collection that was on display. In my head I was like, “Who would wear that?” It struck me hard as I was just starting to explore my style, I could not fathom the idea of wearing a piece like that anywhere, nor the point of it. That was when I started going down the rabbit hole. I made my first CDG purchase at a secondary market event in Malaysia. A lovely couple was selling their CDG collection at the market and I managed to get my hands on a women’s suit pants that had a skirt layered outside (as seen in the image on the top left). I instantly fell in love with the construction and its androgynous nature. I couldn’t fit into the pants at the time but I got it anyway, I will always remember how divine it felt and it is by far, still an all-time favourite of mine.

Your fashion collection is literally massive. Have you gone through your whole closet and counted how many clothing pieces you currently own?

Marie Kondo would be very disappointed in me because I have never once counted. The racks behind me in the main picture take up only a quarter of my wardrobe and they all spark joy. I remember the stories in every piece I own, on what occasion I bought them, and the creative process I go through when I style them. While people write in their diaries, I store fragments of time in my wardrobe.

The fashion scene in Malaysia is growing rapidly, day by day. What are your thoughts?

As it should! We are a country with an array of colours and characters, submerged in such diverse culture growing up, we have a very unique point of view in this world that should be heard. I always believe one who puts thought into dressing up, is one who is very self-aware, one that does not conform to the social standard and lives in their true character through clothes, the unique thought process is what makes us who we are.

Going through your Instagram and your closet, there isn’t one boring piece. How would you describe your style?

Androgynous and avant-garde, I guess. I love pieces that blur the gender gap, explore duality yet maintain a forward design process that challenges conceptual ideas in clothing. I believe design solves problems, and art raises questions. and garments are wearable art that’s designed to challenge norms.

Can you share with us a real special story related to one of your pieces of your collection?

The coat with Guiseppe Arcimboldo’s artwork (CDG SS18 Look One) is my favourite piece of all time. For context, I bought 90% of my pieces online since I am a new collector. I have to compete with a few other collectors for pieces that are in the secondary market (archive pieces). The Comme des Garçons SS18 was the year I fell in love with CDG and I thought it would be more meaningful if I were able to own any of the pieces from that particular collection. I got my hands on it an hour after it was listed on the market and beat everyone to it, perks of staying up until 4am in the morning, I guess. I’m actually currently bidding on another piece from the same collection (Look 11) that has Macoto Takahashi’s artwork on, wish me luck!