Mercedes-Benz Japan Fashion Week kicked off in Tokyo on Monday (October 14) with Japanese designer Tamae Hirokawa of Somarta introducing her kimono inspired designs to media and special guests at an outdoor runway. An annual participant of Japan Fashion Week (JFW) the brand was pleased to be the first Japanese designer to open up the 2013 Spring/Summer runway schedule. While nearly all design houses taking part in JFW utilize the Shibuya Hikarie building to host their runways, Hirokawa preferred an outdoor show set next to a serene garden instead. Asian, mixed and Caucasian models walked the exterior hall of the building past guests into an open terrace next to a pond and garden to pose for media before proceeding into the building to complete their catwalk before fashion media and special guests. The models dressed in modern adaptations of handmade Japanese kimono designs. In particular the designer emphasized the Japanese art of layering as well as detailing belts based on the 'obi' a braided waistband with both decorative and utilitarian use in kimono fashion culture seeking to expand upon the evolution of historical Japanese fashion for wear in the modern world both domestically and internationally. "Well, Japan has the culture of layering going back very far, so I embraced that history of layering as well as the belt, or 'obi' (in Japanese) in the style that the samurais used, which is a belt of braided cord to create an easy to knot belt," Hirokawa told Reuters. While JFW still caters to a mostly domestic audience increased use of Internet streaming and invitations extended to overseas media means a more global audience for designers participating in the Tokyo events. Hirokawa hopes her designs will engage rather than alienate those unfamiliar with Japanese traditional fashion culture by creating attractive and wearable Japanese kimono dress elements for everyday attire. "Well, my aim was for even those that are not familiar with kimono fashion to present them with an authentic kimono inspired style," Hirokawa said. The Mercedes-Benz Japan Fashion Week will continue until Saturday (October 19). Somarta also plans to host a gallery exhibition for media and the general public from October 25-30 at the Ichys Gallery in Tokyo.