“DODOT”; IT’S A DOTTY WORLD AT VANCOUVER FASHION WEEK S/S 2025

  "DODOT" @ VFW

On October 23rd, "Dodot" went dotty on the runway at Vancouver Fashion Week. Certainly, dots are one of the most iconic patterns in fashion. I usually refer to them as polka dots. However, you refer to dots; this pattern has been used since prehistoric times. The brand "Dodot" comes to VFW from Japan. Here are their biographical notes from the VFW website.

About the Designers

The brand is designed by Tomonori Shinozaki, the CEO and Conceptor of CREATOR BOX INC, and Alisa, who graduated from Tokyo MODE GAKUEN College of Fashion & Design. After that, she went to the UK and got her master’s degree in Textile design innovation from Nottingham Trent University.

"DODOT" A REVIEW

From the first time I heard about "Dodot," the concept of designing an entire brand around one pattern captured my attention. CEO Tomonori Shinozaki and designer/artistic director Alisa feel an affinity to the classic pattern that dates back to the beginning of time. "Why is the moon beautiful? How come people feel happiness from fried eggs? What is the reason we find polka dots so cute? " says the brand's designer. What is the inexplicable appeal of dots to humans? We may be asking questions to which there exist no answers.

As far as fashion is concerned, polka dots have played a role throughout the 20th Century and till today. Dots are associated with playfulness and youthfulness.  Iconic figures like Marilyn Monroe and Lucille Ball often wore polka-dot dresses, marrying the design to femininity and glamour. Polka-dots are a constant in cartoons; even Minnie Mouse wears a polka-dot dress. Fashion greats like Christian Dior and Valentino use the iconic dot pattern. Dots are a pattern that brings joy.

"DODOT"

Before the "Dodot" show, I had decided to wear polka dots, one of my favourite patterns. I feel elated when an outfit works out. However, nothing was more exciting than the " Dodot " collection sent down the runway. The standard colour palette for polka dots is black and white, and the designer used this bold combination to create a significant effect. Some of the most visually striking looks were a combination of grey background with black dots. The silhouettes combined loose-fitting pajama-like outfits, sheath dresses, and some pieces with detailed tailoring.  There was a voluminous tiered organza dress with black dots on a black background, highlighted at the hem with neon green piping. A grey and black dotted overcoat-jacket suit had the most original detailing, double waistband trousers and exaggerated bell sleeves. Trouser legs had a series of vertical buttons at the hem.

RUNWAY PHOTOS BY ARUN NEVADER- COURTESY OF VFW

Especially good-looking was a black cover coat with circular cut-outs that exposed a smaller-scale dotted shirt. Under the designer's hand, what could have been a simple display of dotted outfits became a detailed collection of well-crafted and original looks. The show really found its rhythm with the loosely cut shirts with detailed closures and liquidy trousers. The tailored pieces were by far the most complex and precisely executed.

This collection highlighted movement, vitality, and joy, styled with fun oversized dotty spectacles. The collection's effect gave the audience the same joy expressed in the clothes. What at first seemed like an odd idea was a collection completely designed with one pattern, but this iconic pattern worked to bring about a wonderful, fun collection I will soon not forget.

"Dodot" link to website

Dodot has an excellent website that highlights their fabulous clothes for sale!

IN CONCLUSION

I meet the CEO and designer from "Dodot" after their VFW runway show. They were thrilled to see me in my polka-dot outfit. The outfit I wore was in a totally different style than the clothes that Dodot sent down the runway. At that moment I realized how a pattern like polka-dots is truly iconic. What makes a fashion piece or pattern iconic is it's versatility, it's timelessness and its recognizability. Long live the iconic polka-dot.

DESIGNER ALISA, MYSELF, AND CEO TOMONORI SHINOZAKI

CIAO FOR NOW J. ANDREW JACKSON