HB20: Sorayama Stays True

In celebration of his limited edition apparel collaboration with Hypebeast for our 20th anniversary, Hajime Sorayama emphasizes his unfaltering vision.

The HB20 capsule is officially live — visit the landing page to see the individual shirts in detail, as well as purchase your own while supplies last.

For our 20th anniversary, we’re honoring this legacy with a special curated exhibition. We’ve created a limited series of collaborative tees with longtime friends, creative partners, and some of streetwear’s most influential designers and leaders. Together, we want to reignite the energy of iconic graphics, logos, and messages from the past two decades — reimagined for today, and for what comes next.

In the following, we not only preview artwork from the upcoming anniversary exhibition, but also highlight the diverse perspectives of our collaborators whose insights help reveal the power of the T-shirt and give a glimpse into the past, present, and future of streetwear and creativity.

Hajime Sorayama, the legendary Japanese contemporary artist, has built an artistic career defined by hyperrealism and futurism. Best known for his “sexy robots,” Sorayama’s airbrushed chrome figures fuse sensuality with machine aesthetics, creating imagery that is both provocative and visionary. His work transcends genres, influencing fine art, industrial design and pop culture alike.

Sorayama collaborated with Sony in the late ’90s to design the iconic AIBO robot dog, cementing his influence in both art and technology. In fashion, his visuals have appeared in collaborations with brands like Dior, KITH, and BAPE, bringing his futuristic imagination into wearable form.

Sorayama’s art occupies a unique space: unapologetically erotic, deeply technical and endlessly influential. For decades, his work has explored the intersection of humanity and technology, inspiring conversations about desire, identity and the future of design.

How long have you been designing, and how long have you been running your brand?

Hajime Sorayama: I’ve been drawing for over 50 years, since the late 1960s.

Our first post on Sorayama was in May 2009, featuring the “Hajime Sorayama x KAWS” collaboration preview. What’s your first memory of Hypebeast? What were your initial thoughts?

What I remember most is having a terrible experience at the CLUB SORAYAMA popup in Hong Kong in 2017. I won’t go into details, but both Nanzuka and Aisho nearly went blind. I was fine because I had sunglasses on — just goes to show that geniuses are lucky.

Sorayama has been a mainstay on our platform over the years and remains popular with our audience. How have you managed to stay consistent and relevant?

I don’t adapt to others. You’re the ones trying to catch up and keep chasing after me.

“I don’t adapt to others. You’re the ones trying to catch up and keep chasing after me.”

How do you see your work — and your brand — still evolving in the years to come?

That’s a trade secret. If I told you, it’d be considered insider trading.

We’re releasing 20 T-shirt collaborations to celebrate 20 years of Hypebeast. Graphic tees have long been the backbone of streetwear—what do you think gives them that cultural significance? How has their role in fashion and style changed over time?

They’re a tool to make my work more well-known. If it brings in more fans, that makes me happy.

What advice would you give to emerging brands hoping to make a similar impact?

I don’t give advice to others, nor am I in a position to do so

What’s the number one lesson you’ve learned from running a brand for this long?

The only thing you can truly trust is yourself.

“I have no interest in the past. My greatest masterpiece is always the one I’ll create tomorrow.”

Looking back over the years, is there a particular product, collection or moment that meant the most to you?

It’s a slightly refined version of a piece I originally drew in the mid-1980s. They say hands express humanity — and even when I draw robots, I make sure their hands are delicate and beautiful. Please enjoy that.

I have no interest in the past. My greatest masterpiece is always the one I’ll create tomorrow.

Streetwear has evolved dramatically over the past two decades, where do you see it heading next?

I don’t know anything about fashion.

———

Stay tuned for individual interviews with each of our 20th anniversary T-shirt collaborators, rolling out each day over the next week.

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