After replacing the Issey Miyake Homme Plissé line on the Paris Fashion Week schedule, IM Men is taking over for a new, refreshed take on the Issey Miyake world. The label did a quiet soft launch back in 2021 with an international release through a pop-up in London in 2023. The "IM" in the name comes from a discontinued line of everyday items called “im product” that was around in the ‘70s to ‘90s and produced by the Issey Miyake Design Studio.
For its debut show, the brand really takes flight (literally) to create functionality-first, experimental garments that implement technology and modularity with an effortless, Japanese elegance.
Led by the design team trio Sen Kawahara, Yuki Itakura and Nobutaka Kobayashi, they’ve really done the late Issey Miyake justice with a collection scattered with his design DNA. The collection’s filled with monochromatic looks and immaculate layering that creates draped shapes, giving the clothes a dynamic and multidimensional look. Cuts remain comfortable, relaxed and experimental, showing off the team’s pattern cutting expertise and staying true to the innovative approach of the legendary designer.
One of the highlights of the collection was definitely the headwear that had a scarf-beanie hybrid that’s reminiscent of a flying helmet and a rendition of a bucket hat with extra long flaps on either side of the ears. The performative and technical aspect emblematic of Issey Miyake’s work was obviously in the show too, closing out the collection by having the models unbutton a layer off their coats and bring it above their heads. When we thought it was all over and we were ready to give them their deserved applause, the models slowly started running with the cape-like excerpts as it flowed in the show space like kites. IM Men really asked us to fly with them.
Featured image via @giampietrobaudo ©
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