The reason I went to the exhibition was "just for the heck of it.
THE DRESS - It is a sculpture that comes to life" is an exhibition of dresses held in Omotesando, Tokyo.
I was attracted by a photo I happened to see, and I went to the exhibition with a light heart, thinking, "If I can see beautiful dresses..." That was the beginning of my visit.
In this article, I will carefully explain the reason why I was so impressed, the background of the dresses, the amazing designer Emma Rinaga, and the world where "science and fashion" are fused together, from the perspective of someone who visited with absolutely no knowledge of the world.
Minami-Aoyama is lined with luxury brands. In the "Spiral Building" located in one corner of the building, there was a quiet and solemn space lined with dresses.
The meaning behind the title of the exhibition: "Sculpture that comes to life"?
held in June 2025 at Spiral Garden in Omotesando, Tokyo.
I visited the exhibition "THE DRESS - It is a sculpture that comes to life" by Emma Rinaga (Emalie) at Spiral Garden in Omotesando, Tokyo.
I thought it was a beautiful dress exhibition, but the moment I stepped into the space, it took my breath away.
What I saw in front of me were dresses that existed as if they were alive.
And in the background was a fusion of cutting-edge science, including AI, mathematics, brain science, and visual recognition theory.
They are not just "clothes" made of cloth, but "living" entities that have meaning in their very form, compose space like a sculpture, and move the viewer's heart.
potipWho is the designer "Emma Rinaga (Emaliee)"?
A one-of-a-kind concept: "Beauty is born from a dialogue between formulas and the brain.
I myself had never heard of the name before through this exhibition, but Emma Rinaga is one of Japan's leading haute couture designers and a one-of-a-kind entity with a unique philosophy that fuses science and art.
A brief biography:
- Real name is Eri Matsui; debuted as "Eri Matsui" in 1988
- Studied in Chicago, USA and worked in Europe (Paris)
- Since returning to Japan, she has been involved in activities that aim to fuse fashion with cutting-edge science, such as brain science, mathematics, AI, and physics
- Changed her name to "Emma Rinaga" in 2017 and unified her brand name to "EMarie
*The brand "Eri Matsui" is operated by another company and designer Emma Rinaga is not involved in
Fashion x Science. Amazing dress production process
What does it mean to produce dresses using science and AI?
According to the explanation introduced at the exhibition, the company collaborates with the following technologies and researches:
- Collaboration with researchers at RIKEN and the University of Tokyo
- Visualization of mathematical equation analysis and brain wave data by AI, which is reflected in the structure of the dress
- Incorporating concepts from physics and mathematics, such as chaos theory and symmetry aesthetics, into lace, embroidery, and structure
In other words, the dresses are not only "cute" and "glamorous," but also have "beauty" based on intelligence and calculation.
Formula" and "Poetry" hidden in the structure of dresses
In some dresses, the "golden ratio" curves are hidden in the embroidery around the bust,
Another dress had a lace structure based on fractal shapes and chaos theory formulas.
The volume of the skirt and the shape of the waves were even adjusted to the rhythm of AI-generated poetry and music.
Actual dresses used in dramas and movies were also on display.
Legendary dresses that appeared in "that masterpiece" were also on display at the exhibition.
Boys Over Flowers Final" movie.
- The wedding dress worn by Mao Inoue's character Tsukushi
- The dress is a perfect example of the glamorous "princess" look!
- The body of the dress is made of gorgeous lace, and the skirt is delicately draped with artistic drapes and roses.
po tipDrama "Yamato Nadeshiko
- Wedding dress worn by Sakurako, played by Nanako Matsushima.
- It was simple yet quietly powerful, the epitome of "calculated beauty".
- The lines of the skirt are composed of perfect parabolas, hiding mathematical beauty.
Even a beginner can do it! Panel explanations are detailed and easy to understand
When you hear the words "science" and "mathematics," you may be prepared to think, "That sounds a little difficult..." However, there were panel explanations next to the dresses in the venue , carefully explaining even the most difficult details.
- How were brain waveforms used in the dress?
- Which part of the formula is incorporated in the dress?
- How is it connected to "emotion"?
The "intelligence" hidden in the dresses on display
Algorithmic Dress" by AI x RIKEN
The "AI Dress" was created in collaboration with RIKEN,
The work was created by analyzing poems, sounds, and mathematical formulas generated by artificial intelligence, and reflecting their rhythms and structures.
- The folded pleats mimic the beat of music.
- The lace at the bust reflects the mathematical formula pattern
- AI poetry is embroidered on the inner lining.
When I saw this, I learned that "a dress can mean more than what you wear.
The light, the shading, the texture of the fabric, the silhouette... they were all truly amazing, as if each moment was filled with life!
Fractal Dress" in collaboration with a visual perception scholar
Fractal = a geometric structure of "self-similarity" found in the natural world.
Based on this theory, the dress appears to change its shape depending on the angle from which it is viewed and the way it is illuminated.
- The fractal structure stimulates the brain visually and makes us feel beauty "instinctively.
- Precise geometric patterns are reproduced in the decoration and embroidery.
- A miraculous expression that transforms mathematics into "design that appeals to the emotions.
po tipDress is a sculpture, a memory, and a formula
What I felt most through this exhibition was that fashion is a science, a mind, and an art.
A dress that creates a beautiful response in the brain waves of those who see it.
The beauty of curves using the balance of mathematical formulas.
Cloth folded in a rhythm deemed "beautiful" by AI.
A designer who pursues universal beauty by fusing sensitivity and reason.
-that is Emma Rinaga.
Summary of the charms of "THE DRESS Exhibition" that I found when I actually visited the exhibition.
| Features | Contents |
|---|---|
| Attention around the world | Exhibits works published in the NY Times and Nature |
| Science x Art | Fusion of AI, mathematics, and visual theory |
| Worn by Celebrities | Worn by Nanako Matsushima, Mao Inoue, and others |
| Free admission | Located right next to Omotesando Station, so you can drop by on a whim! |
Lastly, it was a "sculpture with life" where intelligence and emotion met.
Constructed with the left brain and moved with the right brain--
The moment mathematics and emotion meet, universal beauty is born.
When I think of these words, I realize that this exhibition was the very embodiment of them.
Having once worked as a designer in the apparel industry, the dresses spread out before me were an object of both nostalgia and envy.
Somewhere along the way, I felt like I had been quietly pushed to want to make dresses again.
I had no prerequisite knowledge of what to expect, and just dropped in on a whim.
But an experience that moves you without reason is a sign of authenticity.
It is not just a piece of clothing.
It was a fusion of intellect and emotion, a sculpture that came to life.
I am truly grateful to have had the good fortune to have had even a small glimpse into the world depicted by Emma Rinaga.
See also: Restaurants in the Spiral Building
Held at "Spiral Garden" in Omotesando! Free Admission
https://www.instagram.com/emarie_wedding
https://www.instagram.com/ema_rie_sensing_garment
Store Name: Spiral Garden (Spiral 1F)
Address: Spiral 1F, 5-6-23 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Store URL: https://www.emarie-weddingdress.com/wedding_dress/index.html
Nearest station: Omotesando Station, Direct connection from Exit B1 (1 min. walk)
Event Name: Rinaga Emma's Dress Sculpture Exhibition THE DRESS - It is a sculpture that has life in it, in search of the ultimate in sculptural beauty.
Event Start Date: 2025-06-12
Event End Date: 2025-06-23
Admission fee: free
Special Notes: Photography OK!
Weekday Business Hours: 11:00 - 8:00
Holiday Business Hours: 11:00 - 8:00
Event Period: 2025-06-12 - 2025-06-23
