Issey Miyake announced a new menswear collection

In a world of fashion where - for some reason - co-ed shows are gradually becoming the norm, Issey Miyake has chosen to go against the grain by announcing the new menswear show IM MEN, which will take place in Paris next February. Launched in 2021 under Miyake's direction, the IM MEN line embodies the brand's unique approach, based on the integration of design and engineering, a creative process that allows design and technology to coexist and complement each other. The creative team, formed in 2019 to develop and launch the brand, is led by three members of the Miyake Design Studio: Sen Kawahara, Yuki Itakura, and Nobutaka Kobayashi. Kawahara and Itakura bring experience gained in iconic projects such as PLEATS PLEASE ISSEY MIYAKE, 132 5. ISSEY MIYAKE, and HOMME PLISSÉ ISSEY MIYAKE, while Kobayashi contributes over a decade of work as a textile designer for Issey Miyake's women's collections. Among designers and engineers, the group works with a multidisciplinary approach to develop garments that combine aesthetics and functionality. A balance between tradition and innovation has always been part of Issey Miyake's identity, both as a brand and as a designer. And, according to MDS representatives, IM MEN is a concrete example of this vision, aiming to redefine the meaning of contemporary menswear, seeking a dialogue between form, function, and technology.

If we also consider HOMME PLISSÉ ISSEY MIYAKE, the collection born in 2019 and inspired by the tradition of Japanese workwear, the coherence of the brand's creative vision becomes clear. The decision to present two standalone menswear lines - both from each other and compared to womenswear collections - is not just a differentiation strategy, but a true statement that reinforces the countercurrent identity of the Japanese brand. In a landscape where major names such as Gucci, Etro, Dsquared2, and Fendi have opted for co-ed shows, leaving Milan Fashion Week Men's relatively sparse, Issey Miyake's choice to propose distinct and independent collections highlights a clear and deliberate vision. The effort to maintain a specific identity for each line positions the brand on a completely different level, emphasizing its commitment to preserving and valuing diversity in fashion. We now await the Paris Fashion Week to see how these ideas will materialize on the runway.