KUON's Patchwork-Rich SS21 Collection Draws From Nature's Bounty

KUON‘s output is often informed by designer Shinichiro Ishibashi’s appreciation for blending Japanese heritage with contemporary codes, leading to approachable silhouettes elevated by indigo dye, sashiko stitching and boro patchwork. Spring/Summer 2021 upholds those ideals, filtering timeless menswear pieces through the lens of Kachōfūgetsu, a 15th-century Japanese aesthetic discipline centered around nature appreciation.

Ishibashi channels some signature KUON elements, like sack suits and militaristic flourishes, but also expands the collection’s oeuvre with some classic Western styling. Here, relaxed chesterfield coats and unlined sports coats co-mingle with the label’s preferred patchwork T-shirts and baggy cargo pants in organic beige and navy tones.

Some new textiles uphold the Kachōfūgetsu sentiment, like a cotton floral patchwork and wearable washi paper that’s crafted from wood pulp and polyolefin to become both durable and water resistant. Again, upcycled textiles are utilized to give the boro rich contrast.

To better showcase the brand’s wares, KUON is opening its first flagship store in Tokyo around mid-September. Hosted in a traditional two-story Nagaya row house, design firm Kanome repurposed the building’s original form as a made-to-order kimono shop to create an immersive shopping experience steeped in heritage. Outside, the brand will evoke the feeling of a Japanese garden with a gravel and stepping stone pathway.

Visit KUON’s website for more information on the Japanese label and to find a list of stockists that will carry Spring/Summer 2021 next year.

Elsewhere in Japan, TaaKK toyed with textiles for its SS21 collection.