Event Planned to Commemorate His First Visit to Japan in October

UMIT BENAN, who was appointed designer for "TRUSSARDI 1911" for the Spring/Summer 2012 collection, is now garnering global attention.

Instead of traditional runway shows, UMIT presents his collections through exhibitions. For "Retired Rockers," he cast middle-aged models imbued with a rock spirit. For "Home Sweet Home," he dressed men enjoying Turkish coffee and chess in his own designs. The theme for Autumn/Winter 2011 was "INVESTMENT BANKERS."

Inspired by the atmosphere of late 1980s New York depicted in films like "Wall Street" and "American Psycho," and the investment bankers who inhabited it, UMIT BENAN freely expanded his imagination to create a virtual protagonist named "Gienchi James," embodying the ideal yuppie.

UNITED ARROWS' video content "NiCE UA" features an interview with UMIT BENAN, filmed during his Milan presentation in June and at his atelier, offering insight into the background of his creative process.



The POP-UP SHOP at UNITED ARROWS Harajuku Flagship Store Men's Building B1F "UNITED ARROWS & SONS" brings together his latest collection, allowing visitors to experience his unique worldview firsthand.

UMIT BENAN
Born in Germany in 1980. After graduating from a boarding school in Switzerland and studying business administration at Boston University in the US, he pursued design at Central Saint Martins in the UK, followed by degrees in design from Parsons School of Design in New York and Istituto Marangoni in Milan. He debuted his eponymous brand for the Autumn/Winter 2009 collection and is currently based in Milan. The diverse influences from the countries he has lived in and the educational paths he has taken have fostered a unique sense of balance, which, along with his Turkish identity, brings a fresh perspective to his craftsmanship.
http://www.umitbenan.com/

UMIT BENAN POP-UP SHOP
Dates: Ongoing until Tuesday, October 11, 2011
UNITED ARROWS Harajuku Flagship Store Men's Building
3-28-1 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo B1F-3F
Hours: 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM (Weekdays), 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM (Weekends & Holidays)
Tel. 03-3479-8180
www.united-arrows.jp