New York Fashion Week 2012: Leather Japan Showcases Up-and-Coming Designers

Leather Japan 2012 made their New York Fashion Week debut with a group of young up and coming Japanese designers, ready to show the U.S. fashion world their unique spin on a classic material; leather.

Leather Japan 2012 is a project organized by the Japan Leather Good Development Committee.

The group was formed to spread the appeal of Japanese leather fashion to the world.

The goal is to expand the Japanese leather goods business into international markets by taking the products beyond the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Tokyo.

"Genten," a brand which was founded in 1999, creates leather accessories such as bags, shoes, wears, and interior goods, made with mainly vegetable tanned leather.

Their bags were hung in a ring around the center of the room, just above the heads of viewers snapping pictures of the strikingly diverse collection.

Genten's works off three basic principles, 'care of nature,' 'conserve finite resources,' and 'make things that will be enchanting for years.'

Genten was joined by Motonari Ono, No, No, Yes! and Le Parrain, Aguri Sagimori and  Koshi Sakaguchi, and last but not least, Somarta and Noritaka Tatehana.

Each designer or duo was given a small platform in each corner of the room where models rotated, showing off dramatically detailed leggings, leather jackets, structured dresses, and multi textured pants.

The music was classic and tranquil, sweeping the viewers off to an ancient Japanese garden.

No, No, Yes! showcased men's wear, complete with male models wearing hand crafted leather designs in a gradation of neutral colors.

Somarta and Noritaka Tatehana collaborated on their corner, with female models rocking intricate leather jackets, skirts, and Tatehana's famous sky high shoes.

His skyscraping platform shoes have even won over pop diva Lady Gaga.