Name: EMIJINGU NYFW 2026SS Collection DIVERSITY
Start: 2025-09-11T13:00-05:00
End: 2025-09-11T14:00-05:00
Location: The Glasshouse

Divercity (2025)

　Japanese Page　→

Presenting “DIVERSITY – The Unique Color and Brilliance Each Individual Holds” at this year’s NYFW was both a great challenge and an irreplaceable experience.

Through conversations with each model before the show, I drew inspiration from their words. The dresses that emerged were no longer mere garments, but evolved into reflections of each person’s very presence and way of life.

Because balloons are such an ephemeral material, I also faced the harsh challenge of creating nine looks within just four days after arriving in New York. It was truly a battle against time. Yet when the team came together as one, the dresses came alive the moment the models put them on, shining on stage with a brilliance that was fleeting yet powerful.

Seeing that sight filled me with profound emotion, and I once again felt the true meaning of this challenge.

This stage was only made possible with the support of friends and family. Sharing that moment of unity on the world stage of New York became a treasure beyond measure for me.

Through this experience, I am convinced that the theme of “diversity” will continue to deeply shape my artistic practice. I will keep creating new works, bringing light and hope to more people around the world.

- After the Show -

Taking this presentation at NYFW as a turning point, EMIJINGU is ready to move forward to new challenges.

We will continue creating works under the themes of diversity and the brilliance of life, and through the fleeting yet powerful medium of balloons, we will keep delivering social messages that go beyond fashion.

At the same time, we will remain a brand that embodies diversity and inclusion, while also addressing broader themes faced by contemporary society, striving to share our thoughts and vision with people around the world.

To achieve this, we aim not only to expand opportunities for exhibitions and collaborations with brands and companies both in Japan and abroad, but also to strengthen our initiatives that connect with society—such as supporting pediatric wards through our sister brand.

We will never stop challenging ourselves.
Through new stories and creations, we will continue to bring light and hope to the world.

- Looking Ahead -

EMIJINGU NYFW 2026SS Collection “DIVERSITY”

Date & Time: Thursday, September 11, 2025, around 1:00 PM
Venue: The Glasshouse
Address: 660 12th Avenue, New York, NY 10019, USA

Global Fashion Collective @globafashioncollective

Hair: Official Sponsors – @GoldwellUS @VarisProHair
Key Hairstylist Lead: @OdeteDasilvaHair | Hair Team: #OdeteDaSilvaHairTeam

Makeup: Official Sponsor – @Cristinacuellarstore
Key Makeup Lead: @cristinacuellar | Makeup Team: @institutocristinacuella

Skincare: @yayoi_official2020

Venue: @theglasshouse.nyc

Because balloon dresses are difficult to preserve for long periods,

these nine looks were created in New York over four days, from September 7 to 10, 2025, in preparation for the show.

Zia

A 13-year-old Chinese American model.
Born with piebaldism, a rare and unique skin condition, she is a young advocate who brings light to society through diversity and creativity.

A dress symbolizing Zia’s future, embodying both playfulness and strength

This dress was designed to reflect Zia’s individuality and her hopes for the future. In the skirt, transparent balloons filled with paint were twisted to create a “mottled pattern,” linking to the characteristics of her piebaldism. At the same time, we sought to preserve the freshness of her 13-year-old self while incorporating textures and colors that evoke a sense of the future, resulting in a natural yet cohesive “futuristic dress.” A hood was added to the design to bring in a touch of cuteness and playfulness. Balancing futuristic strength with softness, the dress fuses Zia’s “uniqueness” with her “radiance yet to come.”

Britney

A model with low vision due to congenital ocular albinism, currently pursuing a master’s degree in Urban Studies. She explores urban accessibility and artistic expression in New York.

The “Mirror and River” dress, reflecting Britney’s philosophy and supple strength

This dress was created to reflect Britney’s individuality and the philosophy within her.

She shared her belief: “The present moment is the most precious gift. Like the flow of a river, to know its sensation you must immerse yourself in it. We are not lost to time; we expand beyond who we once were. A person is not an ‘anchor,’ but a ‘mirror.’” These words were directly translated into the design.

The entire dress layers silver and deep brown balloons to create a metallic texture, expressing the concept of a “mirror.” In addition, vertically cascading balloons contain transparent spheres filled with three shades of blue paint, depicting the gradient flow of a river—conveying the depth and expanse of life.

As Britney describes herself as “Resilient”—possessing supple yet unbreakable strength—this look visualizes her ability to change and continue growing within the passage of time.

Kayla

A New York–based professional dancer and instructor who uses a prosthetic arm. She has appeared in works for Nike, UGG, and Disney+, and champions diversity through dance.

A dress like that of a modern warrior, embodying Kayla’s unwavering strength and pride

This dress was designed to reflect Kayla’s presence and inner strength. An Afro-Latina from New York and a proud user of a prosthetic arm, she has presented a new vision of beauty without concealing her body.

The black-based dress harmonizes with her prosthetic arm, while the gold cross running across the front serves as a powerful accent, symbolizing the path she has forged.

As her Afro-Latina roots intersect with the strength embodied in her prosthetic arm, Kayla radiates a commanding presence—like that of a modern warrior.

This look embodies the spirit she believes in: “Unapologetic—never hiding who you are.” Simply by standing on the runway, her figure conveys unshakable pride and beauty.

Kim

A Brooklyn-based artist and mother. Living with limb differences, she has exhibited her work both in the U.S. and abroad, engaging in diverse forms of expression.

A dress that reflects Kim’s creativity as an artist and her quiet strength

This dress was designed to capture Kim’s strength and suppleness.
The base uses silver balloons layered with smoky green, balancing composure with a strong presence.

In addition, the colors of the colorful tattoo on her left arm were recreated with paint placed inside transparent balloons, arranged as skirt decorations.
These details symbolize her freedom and creativity as an artist.

Kim values the words “Beauty is living”—a belief that beauty lies not in perfection, but in the power found in imperfection and in the everyday.

Accordingly, this dress does not rely on ostentation, but instead conveys strength within quietude.
It is a look that reflects her presence, both soft and powerful, as a mother and as an artist.

Kaitlin

Using a wheelchair since age 18 due to spina bifida, Kaitlin is pursuing law with the aim of advocating for disability rights. Through her modeling, she contributes to “normalizing disability” in society.

A dress that expands Kaitlin’s kindness and weaves connections

This dress was designed to reflect Kaitlin’s kindness and supple strength.
The base combines deep pink and gold balloons, expressing warmth and elegance at once. These colors symbolize her core value of “being kind.”

The strands of small balloon spheres extending from the dress visualize her compassion and kindness dissolving into the air and quietly resonating with those around her.

True to her belief that “strength and hope reside within community,” this look embodies the power of relationships that connect her with others.
As a model, her commitment to making the presence of people with disabilities part of everyday society is rendered here as a radiance that is both gentle and powerful.

Margo

An actor and model based in New York, Margo has been a wheelchair user with quadriplegia since an accident in 2010. A former dancer and black belt holder, she now shares fashion content tailored to seated bodies.

A dress of gentle light that expands Margo’s kindness and individuality

This dress embodies Margo’s belief that “beauty lies in the individuality and honesty within every person.”

The base layers of gold and lilac balloons combine warmth with refinement.
Transparent balloons filled with lilac-colored paint are arranged as if diffusing into the air, symbolizing the way her kindness and her gaze that embraces difference naturally expand to those around her.

As Margo has said, “No matter how difficult the times, never forget to find beauty.” This look translates that message into a soft radiance, kindling a gentle light in the hearts of those who see it.

Jaleesa

An actor and model based in New York, Jaleesa was born with a congenital difference in her right arm. She works with nonprofit organizations as a counselor at summer camps that broaden understanding and support for limb differences. She is also a foster and adoptive mother of three boys.

A great tree dress reflecting Jaleesa’s maternal strength and warmth

This dress was designed to express Jaleesa’s strength and embrace. Its base layers of gold and deep brown balloons evoke the stability and presence of a great tree trunk. Woven accents of three shades of green balloons layered with gold spread outward like branches and leaves, symbolizing the way she brings light, kindness, and hope to others.

At the heart of this look is her role as a mother—nurturing three children with love and hope. Alongside her words, “Hardship is only a temporary season” and “Never give up,” this dress embodies her maternal warmth as a light illuminating the future.

Maddie

A model, actor, and musician living with type 1 diabetes, Maddie is based in Brooklyn, balancing her creative work with dedicated advocacy.

A radiant dress reflecting Maddie’s strength and warmth as she lives with illness

The base of this dress layers soft silver and gold balloons to create an elegant champagne-gold tone, capturing both the warmth within Maddie and the inner strength she embodies as she continues her artistic practice while facing illness.

As embellishment, transparent balloons filled with gold paint were layered to evoke the flow of insulin through her body.

Even as she confronts her condition with sincerity, she pours her passion into both her artistic and advocacy work. This piece embodies Maddie herself—truly a radiant presence.

Kara

A model and dancer who experienced the amputation of her left leg due to osteosarcoma. Through her passion for dance and her personal journey, she advocates for inclusion and greater awareness of disability.

A luminous white dress that embodies pride alongside her prosthetic

This dress was inspired by Kara’s dedication to ballet, capturing the coexistence of delicacy and strength in her movements. The base layers of pearl and white balloons convey a quiet beauty, while transparent balloons filled with pearl-toned paint represent moments when her individuality emerges as a new light. The contrast between her prosthetic leg and the pure white dress symbolizes her story and pride, echoing Kara’s own words: “There’s no such thing as a perfect body.” This piece embodies the belief that each of our life stories is what truly shapes our humanity.

A concept born of confronting the meaning of self and life in the face of illness.

Left: Moyamoya Disease (2021) ; Right: Life (2024)

This collection was born from EmiJingu’s encounter with illness. In 2020 she was diagnosed with an ischemic stroke and the rare moyamoya disease and underwent two surgeries, after which her practice moved toward the theme of “life.”

Her first work, “Moyamoya Disease,” recreated cerebral blood vessels with transparent balloons tinted red, simultaneously invoking life’s fragility and strength. In the subsequent “Life,” she wrapped her own body—blessed with new life—in pearl-like white balloons to symbolize the sanctity of life and the hope it carries.

The new work, “DIVERSITY,” lies on that same continuum: models living with disability or illness wear balloon dresses to express their individual radiance. Balloons are not everlasting, yet the gleam released in a single moment is as fleeting—and as powerful—as a heartbeat.

Balloons don’t last forever—the gleam of a moment can move a heart.

Color is not chosen—it is created. By double-layering balloons we build depth; by painting the inside of transparent balloons, we let hue bloom from within. Fusing latex’s natural, dewy sheen with these colors, we elevate them into forms and tones unique to EMIJINGU.

Balloon Art that Imbues Air and Orbs with Life

Founded in 2017, EMIJINGU gives new value to balloons—a material that does not endure—expanding our expression into fashion, spatial design, performance, and installation.

Because balloons are destined to deflate, we believe they can shine most intensely.

Today we move beyond form to pose questions to the viewer, shaping a world where strength and delicacy, transience and hope coexist.

Craft Focus | Color

EMI JINGU

Balloon Designer & Artist　

Sapporo-born balloon artist and designer. She leads the art-fashion label EMIJINGU and won the 2018 U.S. National Balloon Competition with Water. After a stroke and a diagnosis of moyamoya disease in 2020, her practice shifted to focus on “the brilliance and transience of life,” and she unveiled signature works Moyamoya Disease and Life. Now based in Tokyo, she expands into wearable art and installations, evolving balloons from decoration to expression.

Milestones

2013–2016 Founded the children’s label p0p0balloon; received multiple awards at balloon competitions in Japan and abroad.
2017 First solo exhibition in New York, founded EMIJINGU.
2018 Grand Prize at the U.S. National Balloon Competition for Water; world tour to New York, London, Milan, and Paris.
2019 Debuted first international collection at Vancouver Fashion Week.
2020 Stroke and diagnosis of moyamoya disease (a turning point in her practice); launched a balloon-donation project for pediatric wards.
2021 Signature work Moyamoya Disease.
2024 Signature work Life.
2025 Presenting the new collection DIVERSITY at NYFW.