The menswear line IM MEN, which belongs to Issey Miyake, recently unveiled its Spring/Summer 2026 collection within the minimalist setting of the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain in Paris, themed Dancing Texture. The inspiration for this collection emerged from the design team’s encounter with the works of Japanese ceramic artist Shoji Kamoda, sparking an endless exploration of fabrics.
Shoji Kamoda, the artist who has sparked waves in the contemporary ceramic scene in Japan, has garnered widespread acclaim in just two decades. His creations are eclectic, and the IM MEN design team has cleverly integrated Kamoda's works into their designs, showcasing that unique tactile sensation through clothing while emphasizing the depth and dimensionality of the materials. Guided by the philosophy of A piece of cloth, the team transformed Kamoda's loose clay textures into innovative fabrics.
The UROKOMON collection draws inspiration from Kamoda's beast-like scales, utilizing a complex bonding opal technique to stack multiple layers of material and achieve precise printing. The fabric undergoes a washing process that naturally separates the cotton layers, creating a vibrant totem with interwoven curves and straight lines. Meanwhile, the Gintō series taps into the rich metallic sheen of pure silver-glazed bowls, giving the fabric a fresh texture. The Kaiyu series contrasts light blue glaze with red clay, echoing the plant ash-glazed ceramics and generating striking visual tension. Lastly, the Engrave collection is inspired by Kamoda's Waved Patterns, cleverly integrating wave relief designs into the garment structure.
In addition, ISSEY MIYAKE FOOT is a new footwear development project launched in collaboration between MIYAKE DESIGN STUDIO and ASICS SportStyle, aimed at carrying forward Miyake's A piece of cloth philosophy to create a resonation of creativity and technology. The inaugural series HYPER TAPING draws inspiration from the concept of sports taping, transforming the ASICS side stripes into a structure that wraps around the foot, further enhancing support and fit, showcasing the deep synergy of expertise from both parties.
The launch of the IM MEN 2026 Spring/Summer collection fully showcases the transformative power between art and material innovation, inviting viewers to delve into the rich textures that bridge inspiration and practice.
