IM MEN Pushes Boundaries of Sustainable Fashion Innovation for AW25 Collection
By Ethan Hall
IM MEN, led by Sen Kawahara, Yuri Itakura, and Nobutaka Kobayashi, showed their latest innovative collection in the Le Réfectoire des Cordeliers - a former monastery built in the 16th century. The show was set to a light piano instrumental complemented by the white noise of water washing. There were black robotic installations juxtaposed with the surrounding white room. The show closed with a performance of the dynamic of the garments with the model.
The show opened with a full white look, its large draping folds enveloped the model from head to toe. The colour in the show slowly graduates from the whites and beiges to blues, blacks and brighter browns. Throughout the show there was a varied set of silhouettes ranging from complex draping and asymmetry to simple, futuristic looks.
IM MEN’s constant strive to capture new possibilities in textile and design is once again evidenced. The FLAT DRAPE, WALL, and SWITCH series within the collection were the most provoking technically. Other series within the collection are the FLY, HERON, and the METALLIC ULTRA BOA.
FLAT DRAPE series consists of a draped shirt, jacket and pants silhouette. When folded they will form a square but when worn they will create a “willowy shape” with its folds.
WALL series are outerwear pieces designed in a way that displays the construction panels on the outside of the garment. Recycled polyesters are used to create a thick but soft, lightweight and wrinkle resistant fabric. The design team utilized a various range of button arrangement to allow a number of ways to creatively change the way you can wear the garment.
SWITCH series is a continuation from the SS24 season, which they have developed into a thicker twill. The fabric is a 100% plant based nylon, which is a thin fabric perfect for padded linings. These linings are detachable, for example even the pant linings can be worn as a vest.
Once again, the IM MEN team have delivered a technically, industry leading AW25 collection in textile and garment design inspired by Miyake’s a piece of cloth philosophy. This was especially evident in the installations, which were inspired by Miyake's a piece of cloth concept and designed to demonstrate “a new era that will emerge from the dialogue between traditional craftsmanship and modern technology.”
