August 4, 1999
Web posted at: 4:16 p.m. EDT (2016 GMT)

TOKYO (CNN) -- Modern outfits with a dash of flash make up Yamaji Masatomo's fall/winter collection. The Japanese designer says he's not out to drastically change men's fashion, but he's not afraid to add his own unique flair.

"People are always looking for something new," he says. "And the newness for me comes in fabrics and details. So we're developing new fabrics or concentrating on details and finishes for the old fabrics."

Masatomo's trademarks include functional, yet fashionable button holes and zippers; shoulder stitching; asymmetrical cutting; and fake fur trims.

As for color, Masatomo says black is an important part of the collection. But he also uses white, yellow, gray and pink -- the colors he associates with light. "In fact, I did two glamorous, laminated suits that look pink," he says, "but actually the fibers I used are yellow and orange. It's the lamination that makes the clothing look pink.

"I wanted to offer something so glamorous it could even stand out in front of a crowd of say 50,000 or 60,000 people. Something maybe a singer or rock star would wear. But great for a millennium party."

CNN Style Correspondent Elsa Klensch contributed to this report.