The designer and models have a last minute meeting before rehearsal.

Twice annually, Creatous Magazine hosts a fashion show in the beautiful Osaka City Public Central Hall, in Nakanoshima. Designers, new and established, come to present their concepts, and prove that Tokyo isn’t the only city in Japan with a sense of style.

Osaka’s Public Central Hall, lit up and gorgeous in all its Neo-Renaissance glory.

The show is a non-profit venture, and most of the participants are working on a pro-bono basis. Starting from 10:00 am, an army of make-up and hair artists took up residence in the outer rooms, long benches strewn with brushes, curling irons and colour, prepping for the rehearsal.

Many models had multiple people working on them simultaneously.

Inside in the central hall, models with their make-up finished, began the quick process of rehearsal, walking the long room briskly, getting a sense of the right timing. The photographers also got their chance to see how the show would move, and set up their shots.

Chandeliers hang from the ceiling of the central hall, empty except for models and photographers during the rehearsals.

Photographers get their chance to practice too.

The rehearsals finished and photographers, models and designers had to wait until 3pm for the first show to start. Booths sprung up along the edges of the room, with jewellery, hats, and of course, clothes. Waiting was surprisingly tiring, though everyone was friendly, and easy to talk to. There were no stereotypically bitchy models, or territorial photographers, just lots of shared sighs over the difficult lighting conditions.

Finally, the doors opened, the chairs filled, the music began pumping, and the show began.

From a technical standpoint, I’m not really happy with many of the photos taken this day. The lighting was very difficult – dark, and yellow. My ISO was ramped higher than I have ever set it before, and many of the photos are seriously grainy when seen at larger sizes. However, it was an amazing first fashion shoot experience.

Osaka has been too long overlooked as a city of substance and style. Along with its comedians, and amazing street food, it has a thriving artistic scene, and as many hungry, young talents designing and creating beautiful things as Tokyo.

The next Creatous Magazine Presents Collection will be held December 4th. I definitely hope to be a part of it again.