Moi-même-Moitié
Encyclopedia
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Mana (musician)
Mana is a Japanese musician and fashion designer, best known for his role as leader and guitarist of the visual kei band Malice Mizer. His clothing label, Moi-même-Moitié, helped popularize Japan's Gothic Lolita fashion movement. Mana is currently working on his solo project Moi dix...
, the co-founder and former guitarist of the Visual Kei
Visual Kei
is a movement among Japanese musicians, that is characterized by the use of make-up, elaborate hair styles and flamboyant costumes, often, but not always, coupled with androgynous aesthetics. Some sources state that visual kei refers to a music genre, or to a sub-genre of Japanese rock, with its...
Malice Mizer
Malice Mizer
Malice Mizer was a visual kei rock band from Japan. They were active from August 1992 to December 2001. Formed by Mana and Közi, the band's name stands for "malice and misery", extracted from "nothing but a being of malice and misery" — their reply to the question "what is human?"...
. It was founded in 1999 and features the specific styles of Elegant Gothic Lolita, which blends the innocence and cuteness of the Lolita fashion
Lolita fashion
is a fashion subculture originating in Japan that is based on Victorian-era clothing as well as costumes from the Rococo period, but the style has expanded greatly beyond these two. The Lolita look began primarily as one of modesty with a focus on quality in both material and manufacture of garments...
with the darkness and mystery of Gothic fashion
Gothic fashion
Gothic fashion is a clothing style worn by members of the Goth subculture; a dark, sometimes morbid, eroticized fashion and style of dress. Typical Gothic fashion includes dyed black hair, black lips and black clothes. Both male and female goths wear dark eyeliner and dark fingernails. Styles are...
, and Elegant Gothic Aristocrat
Elegant Gothic Aristocrat
Elegant Gothic Aristocrat is a subset of Gothic Lolita fashion, popular in Japan. The term Elegant Gothic Aristocrat was originally coined by Mana, a fashion designer and former band leader of Malice Mizer, and is used to describe his brand of clothing carried in his store Moi-même-Moitié...
. Mana also founded a band called Moi Dix Mois
Moi dix Mois
Moi dix Mois is a musical project founded by Japanese musician and fashion designer Mana in 2002 after his previous band, Malice Mizer, paused activities.- History :...
in 2002.
The label's name is a portmanteau of the French words "moi-même" (myself) and "moitié" (half), although the expression "moi-même-moitié" does not exist in French. It could also be interpreted as "my own part" or "my own space".
Moi-même-Moitié's clothing is characterised by the use customised materials and couture-like construction. The brand's logo is a candle stick, which often appears as a design detail, for example as embroidery or on buttons, lace and jewellery. Other frequently used motifs are crosses, roses (with thorns), Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
and bat wings. The designs are most commonly black, white, grey and deep blue. Lace is also sometimes used.
Moi-même-Moitié has branches in Tokyo and Hiroshima and also offers online ordering for both domestic and international customers.