There is a divide across the world: a trivial, yet global separation of East and West. However, across this dividing line, influences have been exchanged and shared for eons. While history reflects that these exchanges are certainly not new, in today’s global society, they are definitely more widespread and faster. Particularly in the fast-paced fashion world, these influences are incredibly important. Asian fashion has infiltrated the Western world and can now be found on catwalks and streets across the great divide.

Much of contemporary fashion

design takes its inspiration from traditional clothing. The runways are filled with updates of styles from Medieval eras to the 1970s. And, traditional Asian garb also seems to have made an impact on current design, most importantly from the Japanese Kimono. The kimono is a beautiful garment with long, draping sleeves, a criss-cross breast front, with a high-waisted, wide belt with a large, complex bow called an Obi. A trend for the last several years has been the kimono sweater. Typically long-sleeved, these sweaters are usually wraps, using the crossing breast front

and a sash to close. Often, they also feature the elegant draping sleeves. Traditionally, the sleeves, depending on the marital status of the girl wearing the kimono, may drape to near floor length. While most of these sweaters don’t reach such lengths, some have taken the sleeves very low. Some even maintain the square form of the kimono shape and

sleeves.Another trend is the kimono

dress. Also retaining the cross front, these dresses typically emphasize the high waist created by the obi. The sleeves are less important for this style of dress and are frequently sleeveless or short-sleeved. The most eye-catching of these designs are those that retain the squared

drape sleeves, yet provide a shortened skirt and more flowing fabric, for a very distinct twist on the tradition.

The obi itself has become its own trend. Traditionally, an obi is wide with a thinner sash tied around it. The obi is tied in a very complex knot, frequently with a large, elaborate bow. Designers have picked up on the uniqueness of the obi and created the obi belt as an everyday item. Ranging from cloth to silk to leather, varying the bow size and length, the obi belt comes in a variety of styles unique to each designer. Whether a modern update or a silk traditional item, the obi belt is a glamorous and worldly addition to tops, dresses and sweaters, empha-sizing a high waist.

Kimono textiles have also made a great impact. Kimono fabric and traditional Chinese fabric designs have both become standards in contemporary West-ern fashion. Not only the elegant painting-like kimono patterns, but the Chinese knots, as well as simpler Chinese and Japanese floral patterns, particularly

the Japanese cherry blossom, among others. Designers also use Japanese and Chinese kanji, the traditional script characters of the languages, as fabrics or embellishments. These textiles can be found on everything from dresses and tops to jewelry and purses. Traditional Chinese silk and stitching has also become a beautiful addition to the Western wardrobe.

Not just Japanese, but traditional Chinese garments have had an influence. The beautiful button knot and other knots can be found all across contemporary design, as well as the unique shoulder buttoning of the garment that is known as the cheongsam. This dress, usually long and worn over pants, often features two slits up to the thigh on each side. This has been

applied to contemporary dress design with incredible results. Another unique feature of this garment is the collar, which features a high neck line with a short collar, scalloped at the center. This look works particu-larly well on sleeveless tops and dresses.

Even current pop culture from East Asia is infiltrating contem-porary design. Italian artist and designer Simone Legno, the genius behind Tokidoki, bases all of his designs and patterns on Japanese pop and street culture. In stark contrast to the elegance of the kimono, his fabrics feature boldly colored, quirky illustrated character designs and adorable animals and foods. He has collaborated with LeSportsac to produce several bags featuring these cute creations. Also, he

has partnered with Sanrio, the creators of Japan’s famously adorable cat Hello Kitty. His street wear fashions and T-shirts flaunt Hello Kitty alongside his signature unicorns and other characters.

Hello Kitty, too, has infiltrated her way into fashion in the West-ern world. Costume and fine jew-elry, purses, shoes, and every item of clothing you can think of has her whiskered face on it, along with her many character friends. She has even been featured in a MAC makeup collaboration and across the pages of Vogue magazine. From formal design to street wear, Asian culture and traditional clothing have been influencing runways around the globe. In today’s pop culture, fast fashion world, this trend can only continue.