STAFF: Haru
instagram:haru_02018
Hello! It’s Haru, your resident fashion nerd!!
The fashion industry moves
at a dizzying pace.
When the 26SS collections were first unveiled,
there were collections that sparked controversy
as various brands changed designers,
while others continued their usual creations,
unswayed by the shifting tides.
Personally, I thought the new Jil Sander,
led by Simone Bellotti,
was excellent, with a collection centered
on a return to their tailored roots.
Also,
collaborations like ssstein×UMBRO, and most recently,
KIKO KOSTADINOV× LEVI’S,
bring a breath of fresh air.
Amidst all these brand movements,
a certain Japanese brand has also seen change.
That brand is
"kolor"
As one of the brands that has remained
at the global forefront,
it was announced that starting next season,
the role of designer will pass from the founder,
Junichi Abe,
to our very own Taro Horiuchi,
the designer of th—a brand we have
been carrying at sign for five years.
I still remember being shocked
when I first heard this news!
Taro Horiuchi’s background
is absolutely incredible.
He graduated at the top of his class from the
Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp
(simply put, the Harvard of fashion),
and is a highly skilled designer who launched
his own eponymous brand.
From th, a label known for pieces that blend
into simple daily life—with their
tailored items being particularly popular—
comes a unique piece for this season.
I’d like to introduce that item
to you today.
th
-Bonding Coveralls-
Bonding Coverall Jacket.
It uses a sustainable, eco-friendly material
made from recycled polyester and
non-mulesed wool (wool obtained through natural farming
methods that do not burden the sheep).
By combining the skin-feel of wool
with polyester material,
the piece achieves a structured,
tailored appearance.
Bonding different materials together creates
a stiff, crisp fabric,
offering three-dimensional silhouettes and high
shape retention that makes it resistant to wrinkles.
Because of this firm structure,
it possesses a "dignified" quality
typical of tailoring, which is not usually
found in a standard work coverall jacket.
I think I’ve conveyed how great the fabric is,
but the true charm of this blouson
lies elsewhere...
That is,
the way it elevates the details of a tailored jacket—
th’s specialty—into a blouson,
blending stiff, refined "tailoring"
into everyday life.
It’s a new possibility for tailoring that only
someone like Horiuchi-san, who has spent
decades dedicated to fashion,
could achieve while still embodying the brand’s policy.
Details like the round-cut front
and the sleeves tailored with a forward curve
to match the natural bend of the human arm,
are all reminiscent of a jacket.
Furthermore, the collar, cuffs, and under-button areas
are switched to corduroy fabric,
adding a British, mature touch
to the piece.
For a mature look, simply layer a crew-neck knit
underneath the blouson
and pair it with denim and boots.
It’s a guaranteed winning look, haha.
th continues to evolve, constantly adapting
to the shifting tides of the times.
And keep an eye on the new "kolor"
led by Horiuchi-san...