Kobe Collection

{{Short description|Annual Fashion Event}} thumb|Kobe Fashion Museum in Rokko Island, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan

The {{nihongo|'''Kobe Collection'''|神戸コレクション}} is a fashion event that has been held in Kobe, Japan and other cities during spring and autumn every year since 2002; over 30 brands have participated. It is characteristically a public relations event for consumers, and a chance for young designers to publish their own designs.

In the second half of the 19th century, there were many trading companies and banks that made inroads into Kobe, and the comparatively wealthy families who worked for these companies, tended to live on the mountain side of Kobe and Ashiya. Originally the Kobe fashion-style was seen in children of such wealthy families. The fashion-style was characterized by the refined everyday wear which in quiet colors (navy blue, black, white and gray), in contrast to the popular style for girls in Osaka. From around 1990, many Japanese women's magazines came to take up this style, because it is known to look refined and cute by women in their teens and early 20s. A magazine named Kobe Style focuses on the style trends of Kobe.<ref name="what is kobe-style? (japanese)">[http://f32.aaa.livedoor.jp/~extract/style/index.html what is kobe-style? (japanese)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721234344/http://f32.aaa.livedoor.jp/~extract/style/index.html |date=2011-07-21 }}, retrieved March 14, 2007</ref><ref name="article in Kobe newspaper about fashion (japanese)">[http://www.kobe-np.co.jp/rensai/kobe/kobe6.htm article in Kobe newspaper about fashion (japanese)], retrieved March 14, 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/wbs/2001/05/08/news_day/n5.html introduction by TV-Tokyo (japanese)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929145946/http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/wbs/2001/05/08/news_day/n5.html |date=2007-09-29 }}, retrieved March 14, 2007</ref>

The mode of "Kobe-Style" has somewhat changed, although it is expressed as a pronoun of a conservative fashion in Japan currently, it has been popular among young Japanese girls. Kobe collection has held a strong social background in Japan and surrounding east-Asian countries; In 2007, Kobe collection was held in Shanghai, Yokohama, and in Kobe.<ref>[http://www2.explore.ne.jp/feature/kobe.html an interpretive article of Kobe Collection] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928094344/http://www2.explore.ne.jp/feature/kobe.html |date=2007-09-28 }}, retrieved March 14, 2007</ref>

And Kobe collection will hold in Second Life, an Internet-based virtual world developed by Linden Research, Inc (commonly referred to as Linden Lab).<ref>[http://www.sankei.co.jp/keizai/it/070915/itt070915001.htm Sankei Newspaper 15 Sep. 2007], retrieved September 16, 2007</ref>

== Sponsors (2002 - 2007) == * American Express * Asahi Breweries * Asahi Kasei * Coca-Cola * Daimaru * Häagen-Dazs * JJ (magazine) * Kirin Brewery Company * Kodansha * Mainichi Broadcasting System * Namco Bandai * Nissan Motors * Shiseido * Thailand * Tokyo Broadcasting System * Toshiba * VISA Japan * UCC Ueshima Coffee Co. * Wacoal

==References== {{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{Official website |http://kobe-collection.com/ }}

Category:Organized events in Kobe Category:Fashion events in Japan Category:Japanese fashion Category:Recurring events established in 2002 Category:2002 establishments in Japan Category:Annual events in Japan