ISSEY MIYAKE x New Balance *MT10O

.new vision
ISSEY MIYAKE x New Balance *MT10O
Crafting a New Vision for Athletic Footwear

written Monica de Luna

Striding into the future, ISSEY MIYAKE and New Balance disrupt the athletic wear scene with the MT10O, a bold redefinition of what running shoes can be.

Launching globally this June, this collaboration shatters conventions, blending ISSEY MIYAKE's radical design language with New Balance’s legacy in performance innovation.

ISSEY MIYAKE x New Balance
MT10O
Vibram technology

ISSEY MIYAKE x New Balance
MT10O in Black

Satoshi Kondo, the visionary behind ISSEY MIYAKE’s designs, reworks the New Balance MT10 from the ground up, infusing it with a philosophy of barefoot mobility and fluid physicality. The sneaker challenges the norms, designed for wearers who tread the edge of adventure and style.

The MT10O pairs high-tech functionality with high-fashion sensibility, featuring a sleek, breathable mesh intertwined with supple premium leather. Its streamlined laces and durable, abrasion-resistant touches amplify a minimalist aesthetic that doesn’t compromise on utility.

Underneath its stylish exterior, the MT10O is engineered for the trail yet refined for the cityscape. Its sole, crafted with Vibram technology for optimal grip, tackles diverse terrains with ease. The design’s minimal cushioning connects wearers closely to the ground, supported by a snug fit and a wide toe box that allows for natural foot dynamics.

Captured through the lens of Antoine Picard, the campaign for the MT10O transcends traditional footwear advertising, celebrating the shoe as a dynamic participant in the wearer’s lifestyle. Picard’s imagery, rich with movement and texture, encapsulates the fusion of performance and avant-garde aesthetics that the collaboration embodies.

ISSEY MIYAKE x New Balance
MT10O in Blue Green

ISSEY MIYAKE x New Balance
MT10O in White

The collaboration between ISSEY MIYAKE and New Balance is quite a declaration of how far fashion and function can travel together. The MT10O is made to move boldly, an emblem of what happens when two innovators collide to push the boundaries of design.

all images seen by Antoine Picard
(c) ISSEY MIYAKE x New Balance

ISSEY MIYAKE RHYTHM CHECK FW 24 Series

New Campaign
ISSEY MIYAKE / Ode to the Square and Beyond
* RHYTHM CHECK

written Amanda Mortenson

As the chill of autumn descends and the stark beauty of winter looms, ISSEY MIYAKE's "The Square and Beyond" emerges, wrapping the season in layers of innovation. Drawing from the artistic realm's pervasive square — be it a canvas, musical score, or fabric swatch — this collection unfurls an intricate dance of form and imagination.

At the forefront is the "RHYTHM CHECK" series, now shimmering amidst the curated racks of elite boutiques. The unassuming check pattern, often lost amidst its flamboyant counterparts, is reinvigorated under MIYAKE’s touch.

It pulsates with life, reminiscent of a metronome's consistent beat or the rhythmic thumping of a heart. But the true allure lies in its tactile realm. Through the innovative use of heat-shrinking yarn woven into a precise grid, each piece undergoes a captivating transformation. Born oversized, they are baptized in hot water, emerging with a mesmerizing three-dimensional allure.

The bustling streets of cosmopolitan London, as captured by the renowned photographer piczo, paint the perfect backdrop for this sartorial symphony.

His portraits, radiant with individuals draped in the RHYTHM CHECK series, meld seamlessly with London's urban fabric, creating a visual narrative where tradition dances gracefully with modernity.

ISSEY MIYAKE FW23
RHYTHM CHECK

With "The Square and Beyond," ISSEY MIYAKE isn't just curating threads and textiles—it's a pulsating odyssey.

Traversing the electric beats of rhythm, the raw grit of texture, and the neon glow of city skylines, MIYAKE challenges us to be more than mere spectators. It's an invitation to dive deep, to vibe, to become one with the global tempo. And as you navigate the urban jungles, don't be surprised if the heartbeat of RHYTHM CHECK starts to echo the rhythm of your own soul. Dive in, the city's calling.

all images
(c) ISSEY MIYAKE

ISSEY MIYAKE SS 2024

*New Collection
ISSEY MIYAKE SS 2024 Vision
Embracing the Ethereal

written Sarah Arendts

Floating ethereally through the famed halls of Césure in Paris, ISSEY MIYAKE’s SPRING SUMMER 2024 COLLECTION, Grasping the Formless, unveiled a powerful manifesto of fashion's limitless potential.

The concept? To epitomize intangible elements from nature - the enigmatic wind and capricious light - and mold them into wearable pieces that almost breathe with life.

Driven by the ethereal, Miyake’s new aesthetic engages deeply with fluidity, eschewing the traditional rigidity of couture. The line evokes a feeling, a presence, a connection with nature, and most strikingly, an understanding between fabric and wearer. It’s less about creating a statement and more about discovering oneself through the very clothes you adorn.

Upon entering Césure, the audience was immediately transfixed by an intricate installation conceptualized by Yoshihisa Tanaka. Pleated fragments of washi paper – crafted from organic fibers – hung suspended in mid-air, moving and contorting, symbolizing the delicate dance between cloth and its wearer. As ICTUS's haunting score resonated through the venue, performers seamlessly wove through the installation, embodying the relationship between humanity, clothing, and nature, choreographed to perfection by Némo Flouret.

In the stunning display that was ISSEY MIYAKE’s collection, several series emerged, each illuminating a unique facet of Miyake's genius. AMBIGUOUS, a sophisticated knit series, tantalizingly played between concealment and revelation. It presented soft drapes juxtaposed with form-hugging ribbed back panels, all the while respecting the silhouette and the integrity of the high twist cotton yarn. Next, we were led to imagine a flag pirouetting in the sky with TWINING. This woven series epitomized lightness and structure, employing a weaving technique that left nearly invisible gaps, giving birth to a voluminous texture that still retained an ethereal weightlessness. Then came LIGHT LEAK, a striking print series. Deliberate film exposures morphed into minimalist silhouette designs, with the micro particulars of the original photographs ever-present, each print standing as a faithful homage to its origin. The essence of adaptability was beautifully captured in ENVELOPING and TWISTED.

Woven meticulously with blends of Japanese washi paper, these pieces moved gracefully with the wearer, crafting bespoke silhouettes and textures reminiscent of a second skin. FIXED IN TIME made a statement, presenting motion as though it was trapped in a timeless vortex. The bold silhouettes, adorned with folds and angles, appeared as if they were frozen mid-twirl, a feat achieved using lightweight, stretchy materials that showcased the undeniable power of dynamics. The parade of innovation culminated with SHAPED MEMBRANE. This series, a veritable celebration of texture and form, boasted exaggerated silhouettes. Merging volume with unrivaled comfort, it was clear that every piece was designed to be a joy to wear.

ISSEY MIYAKE
Spring Summer 2024 Runway Installation
Paris Fashion Week

he grand finale was the unveiling of a footwear collaboration with New Balance – the ISSEY MIYAKE x New Balance MT10O, staying true to the "barefoot mobility" concept. Its color palette, mirroring the collection's theme, with the signature lightweight and barefoot feel, was a fitting ode to Satoshi Kondo’s design genius.

Issey Miyake’s SS 2024 is about connecting with the world, understanding the formless, and giving it form. Fashion, when done right, is not just art; it’s a transcendent experience.

all images
Runway and Show Images (c) Issey Miyake

PRADA FALL/WINTER 2023

*New Collection
Prada's Fall/Winter 2023
Where the Surreal meets the Sublime

written John Heath

Prada's Fall/Winter 2023 women's and men's campaign pushes boundaries, exploring a world of beauty, love, and care with their latest collection inspired by the eternal metaphor of flowers, symbolizing tenderness and affection. Not just the regular old posies, but human-sized blooms reimagined to express otherworldly emotions and delicately interwoven with an exquisite line-up of global cinema stars: Benedict Cumberbatch, Hunter Schafer, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Letitia Wright, and Li Xian.

Li Xian for PRADA FW24

seen Willy Vanderperre
creative direction Ferdinando Verderi

Prada's rich history of relationship with cinema fuels the campaign, letting its muses' mastery of their craft inspire feelings through words, actions, and intense gazes. Flowers, depicted in this campaign as colossal participants, become more than just ageless symbols of beauty; they become silent protagonists in a series of surreal conversations, bridging the gap between the everyday and the extraordinary, and becoming tangible conduits of emotion. The narrative transcends cultures and languages as it dives deep into the visual, bringing the improbable to life.

Behind the lens, acclaimed photographer Willy Vanderperre encapsulates each of these rare moments, from the grandiose figures to the stunning, oversized blooms. Through each frame, the figures and flowers engage in visual and literal dialogues, resulting in an evocative contrast of human and natural beauty.

Adding depth to these intriguing exchanges, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Cunningham, known for his mastery in "The Hours" (1998), scripts the accompanying campaign films. As the cast converses with these unlikely floral giants, we are taken on a rollercoaster ride through a kaleidoscope of paradoxical dialogues, simultaneously odd and extraordinary.

Prada's campaign speaks in volumes about the dichotomy of the flower and humanity itself - the delicate balance of fragility and strength, the precious and the mundane, the ephemeral and eternal. Each flower becomes a reflection of the human experience - unique, expressive, and deeply intertwined with our thoughts and feelings. This emotional depth and complexity are what the brand taps into, bringing out the unexpected synergy between the human experience and floral beauty.

Kodi Smit-McPhee for PRADA FW24

Prada's FW23 collection is an externalisation of the intangible, a celebration of real emotion through seemingly unreal imagery.

The real and surreal cross paths, reminding us that there's always something extraordinary within the ordinary - if we only choose to see it.

HOMME PLISSÉ ISSEY MIYAKE

.new collection
HOMME PLISSÉ ISSEY MIYAKE SS24
A New Wave of Pleats

written John Heath

Echoing through the artistic haven of Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, the vibrant hum of anticipation crescendoed as the unfolding revelation of HOMME PLISSÉ ISSEY MIYAKE's Spring Summer 2024 Collection made its debut. Titled 'Everyday, One of a Kind, Now and Hereafter', the collection is an ode to the brand's roots in garment pleating, beautifully encapsulating its core ethos of innovative design.

all images (c) HOMME PLISSÉ ISSEY MIYAKE

HOMME PLISSÉ ISSEY MIYAKE has always carved out a unique path in the sphere of high fashion. Rejecting the ephemeral, the brand staunchly pursues a creative journey towards timeless, yet innovative designs that become inherent to daily life. This collection serves as a testament to this philosophy, presenting an array of pleated masterpieces that amalgamate simplicity with ingenious craftsmanship.

The show opened with a distinctive flourish – a large roll of pleated paper unfurling across the museum gallery. This curious object laid the groundwork for the spectacle that was about to unfold, sparking curiosity among the audience. As the pleated roll unveiled itself, an array of garments emerged, each piece a celebration of the brand's signature pleats.

Each garment breathed a life of its own – an innovative blend of simplicity and technology-infused design. From everyday outfits to one-of-a-kind pieces, the collection served as a canvas for a breathtaking spectrum of fresh, spring-inspired colors. Each piece, born from the brand's avant-garde techniques, beautifully epitomized the HOMME PLISSÉ ISSEY MIYAKE philosophy – infusing life into each outfit, transforming the wearer into a walking masterpiece.

Following the reveal of the garments, the design team emerged on stage, dressing the models in an act that was part-performance, part-demonstration. The audience witnessed firsthand the transformation of each garment from a two-dimensional structure to a three-dimensional silhouette – a stunning testament to the potential of the brand's pleating technology.

In a world filled with fleeting trends, HOMME PLISSÉ ISSEY MIYAKE's 'Everyday, One of a Kind, Now and Hereafter' collection resonated with the timeless allure of simplicity, ingeniously merged with the prowess of technology.

The Spring Summer 2024 Collection, while rooted in the brand's origins, emerged as a groundbreaking ode to the future – capturing the very essence of the everyday, the one-of-a-kind, and everything that lies hereafter. This collection is not just a fashion statement but a poignant reminder of the brand's relentless quest for innovative beauty, a manifesto of their unique blend of art, design, and technology.