HaaT, a brand developed by ISSEY MIYAKE INC., is holding a special exhibition titled "Heart in HaaT" on the third floor of LA COLLEZIONE in Tokyo's Minato Ward until September 8th, focusing on textiles made in Japan.

HaaT is a brand created by textile designer Makiko Minagawa and her planning team that "draws inspiration from textiles." Since the brand's launch in 2000, it has been committed to textiles made in Japan, incorporating new techniques developed in collaboration with Japanese production centers into contemporary clothing.

This exhibition features 67 carefully selected garments and accessories from the brand's 15-year archive, including an Arimatsu tie-dyed vest from its first collection in 2000-2001 autumn/winter, and a textile featuring a jacquard weave of Kyoto Nishijin kasuri (stepped kasuri) pattern, which was introduced in 2014-2015 autumn/winter. The exhibition is divided into categories based on techniques, including tie-dyeing, circular knitting, processing, yarn dyeing, and machine-arranged winding, which enables a multi-variety, small-lot textile production system by tying a single thread into multiple colors. A text edited by Sanae Shimizu is provided at the venue, providing detailed explanations of each item, including the origins of the product and the textile mix. Additionally, space designer Satoshi Itasaka of h220430 designed an exhibit inspired by droplets and water droplets, allowing visitors to see the details of the threads and techniques in a magnifying glass-like manner, ensuring enjoyment for everyone. General Director Minagawa commented, "We've been wanting to hold an exhibition like this for a while, since we weren't able to do it for our 10th anniversary. The main reason is that we want to reveal previously undisclosed techniques and innovations to set a new direction for the next step, and to refresh our spirits. We also want to let more people know that these kinds of things are made in Japan and that these kinds of things are possible."

Furthermore, regarding manufacturing in Japan, he said, "The most difficult time was after the Lehman Shock, when there was a demand for low-priced products, but we thought about what we could do in Japan in times like those, and created our products. Many of the companies that have been working with us since the brand's inception are still in business, but there are fewer companies that can handle each process, such as yarn dyeing, and the final sorting and processing, so what used to take two to three months now takes an additional month. If more companies in Japan stocked the yarn that is the starting point for textiles, it would be easier to weave, and it would be easier for young designers to create samples. Designers need to think about these issues, and I hope the general public will be aware of them as well."

A talk event will be held on the 6th from 6:30 pm, and the venue will be open until 10 pm.