#2005archive

Japanese cyberpunk brand FÖTUS (フェトウス) found its genesis in the 90’s rave scene. Immediately adored by DJ’s and musicians such as Miyavi, Pierrot, and DJ SiSeN, and their fans were quick to follow suit.

The brainchild of self-taught fashion designer Masahiro Saito in 1997, FÖTUS was less of a business venture than an artistic statement. Unsatisfied with the monotony of Japanese fashion trends, Saito strived to create something that stood out, and made people ask questions. “Not to get rich. I only wanted to make something special,” he claimed in an interview in 2003.

Saito made use of polyester, latex, colourful plastic and avant-garde accessories, often centred around neon colours and futuristic concepts. Utilizing unconventional designs and shapes, he transformed neo-futurism and cyberpunk elements into a new look, transmuting the wearer into something almost extra-terrestrial. The name “FÖTUS” is derived from the German word for fetus. As the name suggests, the brand celebrates the birth of something new; the emergence of expectations and hope for the future.