T-KIMONO
Y. & SONS × T-MICHAEL
T-KIMONO
T-MICHAEL is the Artistic & strategic design director of Norwegian Rain, a Norwegian brand specializing in 100% waterproof raincoats, and the owner of his eponymous label T-Michael. As a bespoke tailor his approach to design is a conceptual approach to traditional tailoring. With the shared vision of “presenting the kimono as a new staple to men’s wardrobe, side by side the suit or a pair jeans, as an everyday outfit and not just as a ceremonial garment,” Y. & SONS has been working with him to create The T-Kimono, comprising of the kimono and the haori, since the 2017 Fall/Winter season.
T-MICHAEL visited Y. & SONS for the first time in late October 2015, and T-KIMONO meetings began in earnest at the end of October 2016.
In January 2017, T-KIMONO was presented for the first time in presentation format at PITTI IMMAGINE UOMO (a.k.a. Pitti Uomo), the world’s largest men’s exhibition held in Firenze, Italy.
We are connected with kimonos across oceans and cultures.
The T-KIMONO collection has three guiding principles that have not changed.
・To break down existing barriers through reform.
・To fuse two sensibilities of traditional fabrics, suits and kimonos, into one.
・And then, to make it into a kimono.
And the use of superior Japanese techniques is also an important factor.
In addition, what T-MICHAEL values most in its manufacturing is to fuse traditional tailoring with modern styling in accordance with its concept.
He also says, “While understanding the traditions of the past, we create new solutions to the problems and questions (sustainability and innovation) that the world faces with sincerity.”
T-KIMONO THE ROAD TO HOKURIKU
