Another Tokyo show worth saving: HARE writes a brand-new fashion chapter in a 400-year-old Japanese garden
Black and white haven’t disappeared — Japanese aesthetics are still very much there
When you think of the Japanese brand HARE, it’s easy to picture black and white, sharp tailoring, and a Mode aesthetic with a cool, slightly distant edge. For Spring/Summer 2027, though, the familiar HARE has clearly taken on a different look. The brand recently unveiled its new collection at Happo-en, a more than 400-year-old garden in Tokyo’s Shirokanedai district. Against the quiet backdrop of this traditional Japanese garden, saturated shades of bright red and fuchsia appeared on the runway one after another, marking a new chapter for HARE after a reset of its brand positioning.
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HARE’s latest collection name evokes the idea of “clear skies after rain”
A post shared by HARE(ハレ) (@hare_official)
The Spring/Summer 2027 collection is titled “霽レ,” pronounced the same as HARE. The character “霽” refers to the clouds clearing and the sky and scenery becoming bright again. After the pandemic and rapid changes in the fashion landscape, HARE revisited its original vision. Its signature cool Mode sensibility remains, while this season brings in bolder colors and aims to make clothes intended for everyday wear as glamorous as festive attire.
This shift is also clear in the runway looks: rich reds and pinkish purples run through elongated silhouettes and layered outfits, bringing an almost unrestrained vitality to the black-and-white HARE everyone knows.
Why choose a 400-year-old Japanese garden, of all places?
What makes this show especially compelling isn’t just the clothes. Happo-en’s Japanese garden has a history of more than 400 years, preserving Japanese culture and tradition while continually taking on new meaning with the times. That also echoes HARE’s longstanding design direction of bringing Japanese culture, art, and contemporary fashion into the same space.
As models with a distinctly modern presence moved through the historic garden, the contrast between tradition and the avant-garde became the collection’s most striking backdrop. For HARE, starting anew doesn’t mean overturning everything from the past. It’s more about gradually taking on a new form from the foundation already in place.
A Taiwan-exclusive version is also set to arrive in late September
There’s also a small surprise for HARE fans in Taiwan. As the brand continues to expand across Asia, Taiwan has become one of HARE’s key markets. This time, the Spring/Summer 2027 Runway commemorative T-shirt released in Japan will be offered in a Taiwan-exclusive colorway, with a limited release expected in late September at four physical stores in Taiwan and on the andST Taiwan official website. It will be priced at NT$ 2,690.
HARE has always been good at using cool tones and clean clothing silhouettes to give everyday outfits a slightly unconventional edge. This time, “霽レ” truly feels like the clouds have parted. Black and white haven’t disappeared, and Japanese aesthetics remain, yet with the addition of red, fuchsia, and a brighter mood, we’re beginning to see another side of HARE. Perhaps this is exactly what “clear skies after rain” should look like.
Join Popbee Circle and subscribe to the Popbee newsletter for the latest updates, and be among the first to learn about exclusive member perks and discounts. Beyond this article, here are a few recent stories worth checking out:
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