Image: Honolulu Museum of Art
‘Quiet Luxury: Subversive Fashion in the Edo Period’ will close on October 4, 2026, following its presentation in Gallery 3 from May 22.
Amid recent tumultuous economic times, contemporary fashion has shifted toward minimalism and sustainability, with people avoiding large brand logos and vivid colors in favor of simple designs and high-quality, long-lasting materials; this shift has given rise to the concept of quiet luxury.
Within the colors permitted by the rules, Edo residents developed stylish striped patterns for outward-facing garments and created more than a hundred variations of muted gray, brown and navy blue hues.
The exhibition presents this fashion history through ukiyo-e, kimono, folding screens and books from the Honolulu Museum of Art’s collection, using those forms to illustrate a clandestine and subtle fashion subterfuge.
