Dear Shaded Viewers,
IM MEN will launch in Paris with an exhibition “FLY WITH IM MEN” from January 24-26 at the historic Réfectoire des Cordeliers. In the joyful way that is ISSEY MIYAKE, IM MEN will transform the Réfectoire des Cordeliers into a playground of innovation, where fabric meets philosophy and tradition dances with technology.
Since its inception in 2021, IM MEN has been on a relentless quest to redefine menswear. Drawing inspiration from Issey Miyake’s iconic “a piece of cloth” concept, the brand’s design team has been weaving magic at the intersection of engineering and aesthetics. Their mission? To create garments that don’t just clothe the body, but celebrate its form and movement.
The exhibition will offer visitors an intimate look at the alchemy behind IM MEN’s creations. Curated pieces from the collection will stand alongside displays of the cutting-edge materials and processes that bring them to life. At the helm of this visual spectacle is Tokujin Yoshioka, whose installation bridges the gap between Japan’s rich craftsmanship heritage and the pulsing heart of modern design.
The IM MEN runway show will be held during Paris Fashion Week on January 23, showcasing the Fall Winter 2025/26 collection, the exhibition will serve as a deeper dive into the brand’s ethos.
IM MEN is not just creating clothes; it’s crafting a vision for the future of men’s fashion. It’s time to fly.
The IM MEN design team is led by three members of MIYAKE DESIGN STUDIO (MDS): Sen Kawahara (design/engineering), Yuki Itakura (design/engineering), and Nobutaka Kobayashi (textile design/engineering). This team was formed in 2019 under Issey Miyake’s direction for the launch of the IM MEN brand.
Sen Kawahara
Kawahara first worked at PLEATS PLEASE ISSEY MIYAKE, then on the IN-EI ISSEY MIYAKE project. In 2010, he joined the design team of 132 5. ISSEY MIYAKE. Subsequently, he also joined the design team of HOMME PLISSÉ ISSEY MIYAKE. Today, in addition to his creative work for IM MEN, he participates in the design of ISSEY MIYAKE EYES.
Yuki Itakura
Itakura started at PLEATS PLEASE ISSEY MIYAKE and, in 2010, joined the design team of 132 5. ISSEY MIYAKE. Currently, in addition to his creative work for IM MEN, he is part of the design teams for 132 5. ISSEY MIYAKE and PLEATS PLEASE ISSEY MIYAKE.
Nobutaka Kobayashi
Kobayashi worked for over 10 years as a textile designer for ISSEY MIYAKE women’s collections. Subsequently, he collaborated with me ISSEY MIYAKE and HOMME PLISSÉ ISSEY MIYAKE. In 2017, he joined the design team of 132 5. ISSEY MIYAKE. Today, he is a textile designer for IM MEN.
About Tokujin YoshiokaDesigner / Artist
Born in 1967, Tokujin Yoshioka founded TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA INC. in 2000. Active in the fields of design, architecture, and contemporary art, he enjoys international recognition. Among his most recent works is the Sakura Torch for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
He has won numerous international awards, and his creations are part of the permanent collections of prestigious museums, such as the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Musée National d’Art Moderne. Newsweek named him as one of the 100 most respected Japanese people in the world.
Later,
Diane
