Carhartt WIP x Kunichi Nomura
For FW22, Carhartt WIP has collaborated with the Japanese polymath Kunichi Nomura on a two-piece capsule collection, presented in three different colorways.
Consisting of a jacket and pant, the styles draw from recognizable Carhartt WIP silhouettes and combine them with a refined, tailored edge. Both garments have a distinct duality, described by Nomura as “Yin and yang. Night and day. S&M. Work and play.”
As such, the Kunichi Michigan Blazer is inspired by a traditional chore coat with four utilitarian patch pockets, but also features a two-way corduroy collar and a notched lapel. The corresponding Kunichi Chino Pant, meanwhile, has been created in a relaxed fit that tapers subtly below the knee, and features tool pocket detailing. “My aim when making this jacket and pant was [thinking], how I can work then play within a day, within an hour, without changing my outfit,” adds Nomura. All items are executed in a cotton twill fabric and offered in blue, black and flour.
A well-traveled modern-day renaissance man, Nomura was initially known for his work as a writer and editor, contributing to a variety of Japanese fashion and lifestyle magazines, as well as his own imprint, Sputnik. He went on to found Tripster Inc. In 2004, a design company specializing in interiors, from restaurants to retail spaces.
Nomura has also produced music events, been a DJ and radio host, and dabbled in acting. His long-standing relationship with director Wes Anderson saw him credited as a co-writer of the 2018 animated film Isle of Dogs. But listing his various career milestones doesn’t quite do justice to Nomura’s natural curiosity and unique gravitational pull. The two items in this collection mirror his lifestyle, in which there is a dissolution of the boundaries between work and play, which allows one to be continually nourished by the other.
The accompanying images for this collaboration were shot by Seiya Fujii, with a cast drawn from Nomura’s circle of friends and collaborators.
Carhartt WIP x Kunichi Nomura will be available from September 5th from select Carhartt WIP stores, carhartt-wip.com and select retailers, including BEAMS.
Additionally, in Japan, products will be available on carhartt-wip.jp and BEAMS online from September 9th.
Models: Madsaki, Kaito, Verdy, Lono, Reiji Okamoto, Sho Takahashi, Kunichi Nomura
Creative Direction: Kunichi Nomura
Director: Margt (PERIMETRON)
Isamu Maeda, aratawillsmithsekuharanucler
Stylist: Sho Takahashi
Cinematographer: Michito Hokari
Photographer: Seiya Fujii (W inc.)
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Contact
Federica De Carlo
fdecarlo@carhartt-wip.comAbout Carhartt WIP
Carhartt Work In Progress (WIP) is a clothing brand that adapts and modifies the core products of the pioneering American workwear brand Carhartt to create its own collections. Established in 1994 by Edwin Faeh, the brand’s audience is as likely to associate its iconic yellow ‘C’ motif with late 90s hip hop videos or skate clips as they are with factories or manual labor. This distinction is key when defining Carhartt WIP.
Carhartt WIP engages with different cultural spheres: from Detroit and Berlin’s symbiotic techno scenes, to skateboarding and its communities that span Paris, New York, and Seoul, to the contemporary art world. The brand channels these influences, reflecting the culture that has formed around it. This can be seen and felt in its collections, imagery, and collaboration partners. Today, Carhartt WIP operates over 100 brick and mortar retail stores across Europe, Asia, and the US, as well as working with select wholesale clients.