Oliver Sim Taps BEAMS for 'Hideous Bastard' Merch Collection
Celebrating The XX’s bassist and vocalist’s debut solo album.







Oliver Sim, the lead vocalist and bassist of The XX, has been teasing his debut album, Hideous Bastard, since March this year. From that, we’ve heard four songs — “Hideous,” “Romance With a Memory,” “GMT” and “Fruit” — and ahead of the much-anticipated drop on September 9, Sim has unveiled his merch collection that’s made in collaboration with the Japanese purveyors of fine-quality, relaxed staples: BEAMS.
The merchandise collection launches alongside not just the release of the album, but in conjunction with special events such as a Q&A and debut of the accompanying glam-horror-musical short film at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, as well as a limited edition toy and another screening, Q&A and small performance at the Rio Cinema in Dalston, London.
For the merch itself, BEAMS references the visuals from the album and accompanying short film to create a six-piece capsule comprising a coach jacket, hoody, T-shirt, long T, a cap, and socks. Here, we find a base of gray and black pieces adorned with the monstrous iconography that has infiltrated Sim’s work as of late, with much of it looking at vintage film posters and tour poster-style graphics. This all sits alongside written-out titles and more traditional iconography.
Oliver Sim’s BEAMS merchandise will be available at shows — which have since been postponed — as well as at BEAMS Harajuku and online from September 9.
In other news, 032c’s FW22 “GUILTY” collection is full of sleaziness.