WINNER
2015BAJOWOO
After entering ESMOD in 2003, Bajowoo decided to take his enthusiasm in punk rock music to a new level and became involved in punk design. He designed stage costumes and artworks for rock bands and organized performances. He traveled around London, Paris, Tokyo, Bangkok, and many other cities to experience the global punk rock culture. In 2008, he moved to Japan and joined the Tokyo Dressmaker School. In 2012, while still attending the School, he launched his independent label 99%IS-. He made an arresting debut with his first collection, centered on his signature original studs and leather that stay true to his roots. 99%IS- stands for the concept that “99 percent of people fail or refuse to take notice of the culture of the remaining one percent, which forms 99 percent of what I experience.” This is the basis on which Bajowoo reinterprets the punk rock culture from different perspectives and translates it into a collection flaunting his originality and metier.
He began to showcase his work at Tokyo Fashion Week in the S/S 2014 season, and his S/S 2015 catwalk show became the talk of the town by bringing together fashion heavyweights such as Nick Wooster and Undercover’s designer Jun Takahashi. Influential media such as WWD and Style.com applauded his work as “one of the most noteworthy shows at Tokyo Fashion Week,” further reinforcing his reputation as one of the most prospective global fashion designers. The original studs, which epitomize the essence of 99%IS-, are the product of long hours of a grueling creative process and many trials and errors. Each studpiece, handmade to perfection, displays his superior craftsmanship. This is why many designers, celebrities, and highfashion retailers acknowledge 99%IS- as a truly high-end brand.
99%IS- continues its quest for unparalleled creativity through interesting collaboration projects co-conducted with internationally renowned brands such as Mackintosh, Comme Des Garcons, George Cox, Cody Sanderson, and Underground. Bajowoo’s creations are also much sought after by trendsetters of different nationalities and genres, including Lady Gaga, Chris Brown, Justin Bieber, Miguel, and Big Bang, as both onstage and off-stage wear. His designs are currently being sold at globally recognized high-fashion shops such as Opening Ceremony, H. Lorenzo, I.T, Dover Street Market, and Comme des Garcons.
