Wearing WHM - A Day With Kanon

When WHM 24 AW arrived in store, the team started discussing about the photoshoot. I immediately thought of Kanon. Even though I had only met her once, something about her seemed to align perfectly with what we envisioned for WHM. I wasn’t entirely sure what it was, but I trusted my gut and reached out to her.

Choosing A Different Path

Kanon spent most of her time in Japan playing volleyball. Even though I get to know her as a photographer, she was once all about volleyball.“After graduating in Japan, everyone else was job hunting, but I wanted to do something different,” she said. That led her to Edmonton, where she found a job coaching a university volleyball team and started her life in Canada.We did the photoshoot on a sunny afternoon at False Creek, where Kanon played the role of full-time model and part-time photographer this time.Usually staying behind the lenses, Kanon was totally up for the challenge of being the model. “I don’t get to be photographed often, it’s very exciting!”

Kanon slipped into this outfit from WHM 24 AW.

“It feels like you’re just melting into this outfit!” We couldn’t help but feel amazed by the magic that happens when someone is in their most compatible clothing. Out of the three looks we styled together, this one felt the most like Kanon’s usual style.

Hoping to take a break from Volleyball, Kanon came to Vancouver and found her interest in film photography.

A Photographer Who Knows What She Wants

As we pulled out our gear, we immediately noticed something in common: we both like to carry two film cameras—one 35mm, one medium format—and a digital camera as backup. While digital feels like the safe option, film is where our creativity really kicks in. In a forested area with perfect diffused light, Kanon and I started snapping photos of each other with our Mamiyas.

Unlike my more spontaneous style, Kanon gave gentle but clear instructions, which made me feel more confident being in her shots. “Sometimes, before a shoot, I’ll even sketch out the photo I want to capture,” she explained, describing a thoughtful approach to her photography.

For this shoot, she picked the WHM nylon work jacket to represent her style as a photographer. It’s lightweight, compact, and perfect for a crisp early autumn day in Vancouver.

In work, clothing can sometimes get too practical and lose its softness or creativity. This season’s WHM has its eye on functional clothing, and aims to make them practical, comfortable, and yet interesting to wear.

A WHM Girl

As the photoshoot went on, it became even clearer to me that Kanon is a WHM girl. Sometimes there could be a brand that we may not know well, but certain qualities in us just click with what the designer envisions when creating their pieces.

Kanon wears WHM 24AW red nylon jacket

“What I envision is a woman who’s brave enough to make decisive moves. Whether she’s trying something bold or not, she’s fully aware of her choice,” says Wang Haoming, the designer behind WHM.

When Kanon put on the red jacket—one we almost skipped because of its bold color—she had no hesitation. She was jumping, running, and playing around, improvising movements for the shots with total ease.

And when I suggested to hike up a rocky hill or wander into a quiet neighborhood alley, Kanon was all in, immediately supporting the idea and diving into the challenge of exploring a new path.

“I always like to scout new locations.” She said.

The last look was a striped cardigan and pleated cotton pants—a more elevated look for Kanon, since she doesn’t usually go for these colors. But, as always, she wasn’t afraid to give it a try.

Toward the end of the shoot, Kanon really got into our rhythm, fully improvising her movements for me to capture. At one point, she found a random flower petal and had a blast trying to blow it into the air. In just three hours, we got to feel her creative energy on full display.

Beneath her calm exterior, there’s this uniquely bright and active energy, much like the clothing from WHM. And by the end of it, I knew exactly why I had Kanon in mind for this project.

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