Issey Miyake Men, or IM MEN, returned to Paris on Thursday to unveil its Spring Summer 2027 collection, In Praise of Bamboo Shadows, at Césure. Looking to the quiet beauty of bamboo, the collection translated shifting light, layered textures, and traditional Japanese craftsmanship into a refined lineup that felt understated yet deeply considered.
Inspired by East Asian decorative arts, the collection drew on bamboo motifs from the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, as well as ink-wash paintings and layered paper stencils used in katazome kimono dyeing. Those references extended to the runway itself, where black bamboo and translucent layers created an ever-changing landscape of shifting silhouettes.
Highlights included the BAMBOO SHADOWS series, featuring graphics by Rikako Nagashima printed using the Japanese ironaki dyeing technique on bamboo fibre and organic cotton. BLOOM NYLON introduced sculptural outerwear with a paper-like texture and layered collars inspired by The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, while BAMBOO BLEACH reimagined lightweight denim through artisan discharge printing that echoed the tonal depth of ink-wash paintings.
Elsewhere, BASKET JACQUARD transformed traditional bamboo weaving into lightweight technical fabrics, while NODE PLEATS and BAMBOO PLEATS explored the natural rhythm of bamboo through hand pleating. The collection also introduced the CHIMAKI LEATHER BAG and the latest ISSEY MIYAKE FOOT collaboration with ASICS. The new SORTIE VEILED sneaker conceals its structural elements beneath a single layer, balancing technical function with a clean, understated finish.
Grounded in craftsmanship and thoughtful construction, In Praise of Bamboo Shadows offered another strong example of IM MEN’s ability to reinterpret traditional references through a distinctly modern lens.