AO ORI is a clothing company that specializes in denim but expands to many materials to fit their style. The Aoyama family were weavers and dyers since 1835, who lived in Kosaka (小坂町, Kosaka-machi) a town located in Akita Prefecture, Japan. In 1947 after blue jeans were introduced to Japan after WW2, the family decided to buy and sell them on the black market to learn and improve upon the American and Italian design. In 1964 a fabric factory in the district of Kojima in southern Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture was able to mass-produce denim. Using their knowledge from the black market and already creating their own designs and denim, they opened up their business in 1966 and partnered with the factory to mass produce denim products for the people of Japan and eventually the world.
The family name Aoyama translates to “blue/green mountain” and the first part of the name Ao is the Japanese word for blue, brought together with the word Ori (Weave) It brings homage to the family name and profession; Ao Ori aka Blue Weave.
In Japan, tattoos have long been stigmatized for their association with organized crime gangs, the Yakuza, who pledge their allegiance with full-body markings. Consequently, anyone with ink – regardless of their profession – cannot usually use public swimming pools, hot springs, beaches, and even some gyms.
Toru Hashimoto was a Japanese politician who served as mayor of Osaka from 2011 to 2015. He was known for his controversial views and policies, one of which was his opposition to tattoos. In 2012, he ordered a survey of all city employees to determine whether they had any tattoos. Those who did were told that they would have to cover them up or leave their jobs. Hashimoto's policy was met with widespread criticism, both from within Japan and from around the world. Many people argued that it was discriminatory and that it violated the right to freedom of expression. Hashimoto defended his policy, arguing that it was necessary to maintain public order. He also said that tattoos were "antisocial" and that they had no place in Japanese society.
Ao Ori's runway show counters Japan's tattoo stigma, embracing the art form in their clothing to reflect changing public views and government overreach.
