Noir Kei Ninomiya, a brand developed by Comme des Garçons, opened a pop-up shop featuring the 2014-15 Autumn/Winter collection on the third floor of the Isetan Shinjuku store on July 30th. The shop will run until August 5th.
While the brand does not have a specific seasonal theme, the 2014-15 Autumn/Winter collection was created with the key words "black, quiet, and powerful. Even within the same 'black,' there is movement and depth" (designer Kei Ninomiya). A new technique was introduced: threading rings through the fabric to integrate clothing and accessories, an attempt to create a sense of "discomfort" that differs from conventional sewing.
At the venue, garments were displayed within a jet-black grid designed by Comme des Garçons designer Rei Kawakubo. Of the approximately 70 pieces in the collection, 20 to 30 were on sale. The collection includes items from the brand's "Noir" (black) color palette, including a rider's jacket (¥185,000) with faux leather layered from the arms to the back, creating a three-dimensional silhouette; a dress (¥94,000) with pleats and rounded perforations on the front; a quilted skirt; and a long lace skirt. The collection utilizes a variety of materials, techniques, and finishes to create a black look. A year and a half has passed since the launch of the 2013 Spring/Summer collection, and the brand is gradually expanding its inventory. Starting this season, the brand will also be available at Seibu Shibuya. A permanent space has opened on the fifth floor of Dover Street Market Ginza, one floor below. With an increasing number of customers from Asia and Europe, the brand will be featured at an event at the long-established Paris department store, Bon Marché, in August. Ninomiya said, "I think there are some designs that are difficult to incorporate into everyday life, but I would like to continue to convey the surprise that comes with clothes and the excitement that comes when you wear them."