Focusing on Tokyo's Powerful Street Fashion

――This season's capsule collection was born from a collaboration with artist Shunsuke Imai. The graphic textiles, unlike anything seen before, are said to have brought out a new charm in the brand. Could you tell us about the background of this collaboration?

And so, through our Japanese staff, we immediately contacted Mr. Imai to ask, "Are you interested in a collaboration?" Some artists may not be interested in fashion, but since he had presented works with prints on fabric, we explored the possibility.

――This is the first time the brand has collaborated with an artist, isn't it?

It's very exciting because it's the first collaboration with an artist for both Calvin Klein and myself. Fashion and art have always had a close relationship. For example, Yves Saint Laurent and Mondrian, or Elsa Schiaparelli and Dalí. The connection between fashion and art remains intimate, and the creative process is the same.

The opportunity to collaborate with a young artist like Mr. Imai is a significant evolution for us. Calvin Klein is a major brand with a long history, but at the same time, we are committed to increasing the exposure of young artists. Just a month ago, I worked with Justin Bieber (laughs). Collaborations with artists are extremely important for Calvin Klein. Moving forward, we believe it is Calvin Klein's mission to remain open to new generations, including musicians, models, photographers, and from established figures to emerging artists.



――What do you and Mr. Imai have in common? What resonated with you?

Expressing 3D within a 2D, flat work. I like that his work has "movement" within its flatness. As a designer, my favorite process is the transformation from two dimensions to three. It's something that has a very powerful story, yet is simple. And typically, Mr. Imai works with static 2D, while I create 3D things in fashion. It's interesting that we both started to move together.

――So, the capsule collection was born. Could you tell us about its highlights?

This collection is very graphic and bold. And it represents street fashion. It truly reflects Mr. Imai's work. Looking at his art, I felt it represented "Tokyo." He always uses vibrant colors that seem to express the stimulating nature of Tokyo, but this time, we proposed "Tokyo without lights" as the theme, and it was finished in gray, the brand's signature color. Also, Mr. Imai, who lives in Tokyo, is influenced by it daily, and I am very interested in the city of Tokyo myself, so I am delighted that we were able to effectively express its street sensibility.

The influence of street fashion that Japan projects to the world is immense. It greatly impacts high-fashion designers in Paris as well. During this visit to Japan, I visited many galleries in Shibuya, Ginza, Harajuku, and Omotesando, and everyone's way of styling street fashion was superb. The casual street fashion of the younger generation, in particular, was highly original. The sweatshirts and sweatpants presented in this capsule collection are strongly influenced by this Tokyo street fashion.

――How would you like Japanese people to wear these pieces?

I want them to enjoy styling it in their own unique way. The wonderful thing about fashion is that it allows for individual expression. Calvin Klein's success, as seen in the SNS hashtag "#mycalvinklein," lies in the ability to wear it in one's own style. We believe we offer that, so please wear it however you like. And please show us how you wear it. Any interpretation is interesting to me. For example, I'd love to see photos of people wearing the sweatshirts while dancing at a club or exercising (laughs).