Buffer Celebrates Maxell’s Legacy With New Collection
Tetsu Nishiyama’s new imprint translates archival energy and recording graphics into apparel and a portable cassette player.
Summary
- The collaboration centers on a Bluetooth-compatible portable cassette player equipped with built-in speakers
- Graphic T-shirts and socks utilize archival designs from 1970s 9V batteries and 1993 MD packaging
- A specialized Buffer original sticker is included with every purchase of the portable player hardware
The Maxell x Buffer “MXCP-P100SBK” and accompanying apparel collection is celebrating the physical hardware and graphic legacy of the Japanese electronics giant. Launched under Tetsu Nishiyama’s new imprint, Buffer, the capsule focuses on technical updates to analog formats and the translation of vintage industrial design into wearable textiles.
At the center of the hardware offering is the MXCP-P100SBK, a portable cassette player that integrates modern wireless utility into a traditional analog chassis. The device features Bluetooth compatibility alongside integrated speakers, allowing for versatile playback of tape-based media. Each unit is finished in a specialized black colorway and is packaged with a dedicated Buffer original sticker, marking its status as a Buffer Store exclusive.
The apparel component of the release applies a technical lens to Maxell’s extensive design archive. Specifically, the “20260502” collection utilizes the graphic identity of Maxell’s 1970s-era rectangular 9V battery and the specific packaging of the brand’s first-generation MD (MiniDisc) released in 1993. These archival references are applied across T-shirts and socks, treating the technical diagrams and energy symbols of the late 20th century as core design elements.
The Maxell x Buffer collection drops May 2 at the Buffer Store in Jinnan, Tokyo.
