Maison Mihara Yasuhiro Presents SS21 to an Audience of Puppets

Though unable to put on real-world fashion shows as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, brands are embracing unreality for Spring/Summer 2021. After last week’s cartoon premiere at Louis Vuitton, Maison Mihara Yasuhiro opted to presents its collection using puppets.

In a short film debuted as part of the virtual version of Paris Fashion Week over the weekend, the brand makes a lighthearted poke at the absurdity of fashion shows. The film shows a puppet character attending a runway show, while navigating its way past the hordes of fans outside, attention seeking street-stylers, and furiously scribbling editors in the front row.

The clothes themselves, in line with many of this week’s shows, run the gamut from oversized tailoring to fluid layers, and a series of utility-inspired workwear pieces.

Discussing the collection with HYPEBEAST, Mihara Yasuhiro discussed how the lockdowns have affected his creative process. “I was worried about how I could share my “passion” with my atelier staff and keep everyone involved with my collection motivated,” he said, “but they were more passionate than ever.”

“Brands have had to adapt to this lockdown in all sorts of ways, it’s been interesting looking at digital ways of creating a memorable presentation, it’s made us take a step back and realise what is most important – the product itself and the art of expression. It doesn’t affect who wears our clothes as we’ve always had a very consistent aesthetic running through season to season.”

“Hopefully this big shift will be an opportunity for real change,” he said, “bringing the industry back to art and self-expression rather than vanity and consumption.”

For more Paris coverage, check out the latest collection from Rick Owens.