On January 27, 2022, YUIMA NAKAZATO presented its 11th couture collection “LIMINAL” at Haute Couture Week in Paris. This was the first physical runway show held in Paris after a two-year hiatus caused by the global pandemic.
The inspiration for this collection is the Chimera, a fantastical creature long relegated to the world of myth and legend. Now, however, we can finally say that such myths are gradually becoming reality.
The nebulous space where fiction becomes fact—born from the confluence of cutting-edge technology and ancient wisdom—could be said to represent the pinnacle of humanity’s achievements thus far. The collection’s title, LIMINAL, was chosen to symbolise this ambiguous domain of limitless values and possibilities.
Based on the belief that the evolution of garments will lead to a richer human society, and in order to fulfil our responsibility towards future generations, YUIMA NAKAZATO conducts ongoing assessment of material supply chains and creates garments designed for long-term use and eventual up-cycling. Moreover, we continue to engage in development of our in-house production system, Biosmocking, which seeks to eliminate material waste from the garment creation process.
We create garments using natural materials including Brewed ProteinTM materials, and we strive to decrease the use of petroleum-based materials whenever possible. From the perspective of material circulation, we also endeavor to produce our garments with mono-materials. However, utilization of petroleum-based materials for functional reasons is sometimes unavoidable, such as when employing a specific ink, colorant, or stitch yarn (a small amount of which is found in this collection). In order to better address these challenges, we continue to pursue opportunities for partnerships throughout various industries while also striving to develop our own innovative technologies, processes, and styles.
Born in 1985, Yuima Nakazato graduated from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp in 2008. Founded YUIMA NAKAZATO Co., Ltd. in 2015. In July 2016, formally selected as a guest designer for Haute Couture Week. Since then, Yuima has continued presenting his collections at Paris Fashion Week, offering his trademark fusion of technology and craftsmanship. From July 2021, initiated FASHION FRONTIER PROGRAM, which is an educational project for the ambitious next generation fashion designers. Yuima pursue the cutting-edge fashion through Haute Couture Week, and eager to tackle social issues at the same time.
All images courtesy of Yuima Nakazato
Creative direction: YUIMA NAKAZATO Photography: Yasunari Kikuma Hair & makeup direction/Wig design: Hirofumi Kera (SHISEIDO) Styling: Robbie Spencer Music: Ryuichi Sakamoto, Senjan Jansen Artistic collaborator/Dance performance: Nanine Linning Dance performance: Ève-Marie Dalcourt, Evgeny Ganeev.