Avant-garde Experiments in Menswear

Brands currently leading the men's fashion scene have simultaneously unveiled items using Crystallized - Swarovski Elements. This initiative, which seems to carve out a new frontier in men's fashion, blends the sparkle of Crystallized with avant-garde modes. The entire project, from the selection of participating brands to the actual items created, was directed by globally active fashion editor Yuma Tomoki.

"In women's fashion, Crystallized is widely recognized, used in dresses and tiaras, right? But this time, Swarovski approached me with a request to 'do something for men.' So, I reached out to men's brands I found interesting, suggesting we create something using Crystallized. That's how it all began."



The brands Yuma collaborated with this time are Wacko Maria, Visvim, ts(s), Soe, Sabatino, Kitsuné, John Lawrence Sullivan, Inpaichthys Kerri, Cicata, Casely-hayford, Bedwin & the Heartbreakers, and 3.1 Philip Lim – 12 brands in total, with Lanvin as a special guest. It's a stellar lineup, truly representing the vanguard of contemporary menswear.

"My criteria for selecting brands were primarily Tokyo-based labels that deliberately avoid runway shows. Although some, like 3.1 Philip Lim, Casely-hayford, and Kitsuné, are international. As you can see from the lineup, most of these brands don't typically favor shiny materials, but I wanted them to try it."

Tomoki explains that the small 'tries' at various stages, starting from how to approach the designers with the concept, were particularly interesting.

"I put a lot of thought into how to present the project. The common brief I gave was, 'Create your signature piece using Crystallized.' But most of you don't usually wear sparkly things, right? The theme was to create something wearable and purchasable using these sparkling elements. From there, it evolved into Cicata creating a cable-knit sweater, and ts(s) a coverall jacket, and so on."

It's also noteworthy that Lanvin, led by Lucas Ossendrijver, is participating as a special guest.

"Lucas and I are good friends. When I mentioned I was doing this project with Crystallized, he readily agreed to participate as a guest and created these sneakers."

Finally, we asked Tomoki for styling advice for OPENERS readers...

"Perhaps it's about wearing something dazzling with chicness. Like the saying, 'conceal it to make it bloom' (laughs). Instead of ostentatiously pairing a single luxurious item with the distressed look that's been prevalent lately, keep it chic. My hope is that you'll find inspiration here for how to smartly incorporate sparkling pieces. With 12 brands involved, there's bound to be something that suits your style. And who knows, I might start incorporating more shiny items into my own styling too (laughs)."