Sukeban in Japanese signifies “delinquent woman” — the chief of a woman gang. It’s additionally the identify of a Japanese girls’s professional wrestling league cofounded by clothier Olympia Le-Tan that’s attracting a trendy crowd.
“It’s type of a household affair as a result of my sister’s husband had this concept,” Le-Tan defined. “We went on a visit to Japan collectively and went to see a bunch of those wrestling matches over there. And we simply cherished it. And so, he requested me if I’d be fascinated by engaged on this with him, making a league of our personal and bringing it to the U.S.”
When she had her personal clothes model, which she confirmed throughout Paris Trend Week, Le-Tan was recognized for her whimsical “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” type, enjoying with feminine stereotypes. And she or he brings an identical sensibility to Sukeban, designing all of the costumes and overseeing inventive path.
She introduced fights to New York and Miami earlier than the West Coast debut in Los Angeles at Trinity Auditorium final month. A crowd of greater than 2,000 gathered for a Japanese road meals pageant with drinks and loads of merch earlier than heading inside to look at. Saweetie, Diplo, Barbie Ferreira, Steven Yeun, Greta Lee, Jeffery Deitch, designer Scott Sternberg, Caroline Polachek, Kilo Kish, Dev Hynes and Rock M. Sakura of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” got here out, in addition to WWE CEO Nick Khan, American wrestler Jon Moxley and former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett.
Rivals entered through the highest of the stage, and took runway-worthy walks to the ring with followers capturing the moments from the wings on their iPhones and cheering on their favorites. There have been 5 matches in whole, ending with the large one: Commander Nakajima towards Crush Yuu.
“The champion is Commander Nakajima,” Le-Tan mentioned of ends in L.A. “She received once more.”
Commander Nakajima, born Arisa Nakajima, defended her title in a Goth look.
Commander Nakajima (Sukeban’s champion) and Crush Yuu.
Courtesy Sukeban/Atiba Jefferson
“Commander Nakajima is a little bit of a darkish lord,” defined Le-Tan. “She’s a part of the Harmful Liaisons. And so they’re type of evil, aristocratic varieties. And so, she’s sporting a commander’s jacket with silver epaulettes and her identify in rhinestones on the again. She’s very athletic, so she’s obtained fairly a easy outfit with black using pants and a bodysuit along with her identify on it. Crush Yuu is a part of the Cherry Bomb ladies, and the Cherry Bomb ladies are extra tomboy, hip-hop-inspired. And so, her look was impressed by Salt-N-Pepa, TLC, that type of vibe.”
Simply as essential as the clothes is the glam. Le-Tan tapped Devra Kinery and Isamaya Ffrench, respectively, to supervise magnificence in New York and Miami. In L.A. it was make-up artist Kali Kennedy who collaborated with hair stylist Dennis Lanni.
Atomic Banshee, the punk, in her signature glam.
Courtesy of Sukeban/Mike Vitelli
“That actually appealed to me after I went to see fights in Japan and in addition having watched a little bit of wrestling after I was a child,” Le-Tan mentioned of magnificence artistry within the sport. “It’s all the time been a factor, however they do it themselves and it’s not likely pushed to this stage. Due to my background in vogue, I used to be, like, ‘We will actually push this, and we are able to get some superb expertise to return and create appears to be like for the wrestlers.’”
Utilizing largely MAC Cosmetics, the make-up took about six hours to create altogether, mentioned Le-Tan. The colours are daring, matching eye shadows and liners to the costumes and personas. Commander Nakajima, in shades of grey and black, had on daring lashes and a darkish liner. For Crush Yuu, the main focus was on the hair, worn in braided and colourful pigtails.
Commander Nakajima and Bull Nakano.
Courtesy Sukeban/Atiba Jefferson
“He weaved all these totally different colours into their hair,” Le-Tan mentioned of Lanni. “Due to the extremeness of the wrestling, they will’t actually put on hairpins, and there’s all these sorts of restrictions in order that they don’t get harmed. So, he truly sews issues into their hair earlier than the combat, and he’s been doing all these multicolored braids.”
The inspiration begins with the outfits, and the sweetness appears to be like come collectively from there.
“Every time we’ve got calls and we have a look at the totally different costumes and discuss their personalities collectively,” Le-Tan mentioned of working with the artists. “After which they create based mostly on that. I give them the free rein.”
Maya Mamushi and Sareee Bomb
Courtesy Sukeban/Atiba Jefferson