Undercover 2011 s/s 'Underman' Campaign

Jun Takahashi has just released the lookbook for Undercover's s/s '11 collection, 'Underman', however he also has a way more conceptual little campaign that really explores the story of Underman in a fun old school super hero style. Enter UNDERMAN, 'The Empty World'...

The year is 20XX. The world, in which the soules of the people have been incapacitated by the forces of evil, is empty. UNDERMAN is born to restore these lost souls. The battle against sorrow wages on.
UNDERMAN!!!!

Enemy: Pyranoid
Home: 8th Goslar Star
Weapon: Infinity cutter
A mineral monster whose left hand holds the infinity cutter, which removes people's minds.

Enemy: Gem Monster Mashra (played by Mademoiselle Yulia, <3)
Home: The underground city of Udoo
Weapon: Shra Stick
Mashra uses the Shra Stick to steal the souls of people. She is a missionary from the underground world.

Certain doom for Underman!
Underman escapes the beam by a hair's breadth, but he is blown off his feet as an explosive roar and blinding light overwhelm him. Underman is on the knife's edge!

KICO, she knows how to save this world.

Man-under, it becomes.
UNDERMAN transforms!Caught up in the Label Niño phenomenon created by the Cosmo Creamer emanating from the Eraser Belt, he transforms into Underman

Awesomely awesome awesomeness, from concept to styling to to photography. Shot by Morimoto Katsuhide with Jun Takahashi, art direction by Tetsuya Nagato Karuizawa camp. This photo story is a total of 36 cuts, inspired by old Rider Hero cards, and will be fully released (possibly in trading card form) early next year.


Giving people a reason to actually want your lookbook alone... Brilliance.



-john-

via jun

UNDERCOVER Womens Fall 2010

Jun Takahashi womens line is closely following his mens line in the overall style of garment, as well as the production of the fashion show presentation. With UNDERCOVER he has gone away from the typical glamorous runway line, and given his Fall 2010 collection a very real life feel, making it very literally RTW and functional. The style of the show is exactly the same as the mens line, using everyday backdrops to capture the feel of each look. And while he modeled his mens line, he got his wife, Riko, to model the womens, making it all that much more real...










While the face value of the collection may look a little basic at times, it is really all about the details. There are rugged looking shirts that are actually make of fine silk, and cheap looking fleece that is actually premium sheepskin. Many of the jackets also revealed to be reversible, and most amazing are the accessory bags in the form of random everyday goods like a baguette, wine bottle, or newspaper. See that 2nd picture, yea that would be a clutch, not an actual loaf of bread. Now that's what I call "Undercover" (ha-ha-ha).

Next season Jun might go back to having an elaborate runway line but will also counter it with a line like this, that has some practicality and will sell. In the words of Jun Takahashi, the line is "Less but better" and it works here.


-john-

via WWD

UNDERCOVER a/w 2010 Lookbook - "Avakareta Life"

The mens side of UNDERCOVER has taken such great leaps over the past few years, as it perfectly plays the line between runway and edgy independent label. Well this year's Autumn/ Winter collection is called "Avakareta Life" and images of over 30 looks have just released!
More lookbook lust...









The collection looks amazing. Always strong with outerwear, that 1st jacket is my favorite piece for the giant bubble hood. But I'm also beyond intrigued by the oversized and lined collars on the 2 asymmetrical jackets. Aside from the that the headgear and accessories are very clean, as are the pants, keeping it simple.

And the lookbook itself is just as great! Great concept with the obvious faux scenery to set the mood for each look but still keep consistency throughout. Inspiring. And yes that is Jun Takahashi modeling his own line.

Browse all 30+ looks over at Hypebeast or Glltn


-john-

Jun Takahashi Interview (Undercover s/s 2010 show)

To present his Spring/ Summer 2010 menswear collection, Jun Takahashiput on an amazing show in Florence garden just a few months ago. The Corner caught up to him for a nice interview about his show, views on the internet, technology the future, materials, and more. He is amazing, and this is a good watch...

Ever since being in Hong Kong and falling in love with the Undercover store, I've been a huge fan of Jun and the line. He is a true fashion designer who uses all sorts of inspiration for new materials, themes and looks. Undercover along with Visvim are 2 of the best doing right now. Period.

And I really want one of those awkward and borderline creepy animal/ dolls that he makes.


-john-

via yoox

NOWHERE Interview with Nigo & Jun

With the recent opening if NOWHERE Hong Kong, Hypebeast was lucky enough to get a quick interview with Nigo and Jun Takahashi to speak a little bit more on the progression of the project.



They get into their history, their respective roles at Bape and UNDERCOVER, and naturally they touch on the NOWHERE project a bit as well.

Read the entire interview here. Some nice pictures of the new NOWHERE store as well.



-john-

Undercover x Kaws Bear Companion

Undercover and Kaws have gotten together to release this Bear Companion figure.

Out on the 29th August, the figures retail for ¥12,800 and will be available from all Undercover stores and Isetan, Shinjuku.

2 colours will be available with each figure featuring the Undercover teddy bear carrying a Kaws companion.



Via Jun Takahashi


-Yom

Undercover Aoyama - a/w 2009 Womens Collection

Same story as I just posted, except this is the Womens half of the collection from the Autumn/ Winter release at Undercover Aoyama. Opening July 18th.



Undercover does such great things with cut & sewn pieces, like these hoodies. The sleeve ends and bottom construction make a simple solid color hoody unlike any other.


I'm growing to hate loud back pocket designs, so I think this garter belt type designs are kinda sweet. For the ladies that is.




Sure you have to be willing to take some risks to pull some of it off, but if you can it definitely would look amazing.

The womens and mens collections will be available at the re-opening of Undercover Aoyama on July 18th.



-john-

via Jun

Undercover Aoyama - a/w 2009 Mens Collection

For the re-opening of their store in Aoyama, Tokyo on July 18th, Undercover will be launching their Autumn/ Winter 2009 line. Here is a quick preview of what is in store for the Mens half of things, which of course ranges from tees to windbreakers to sneakers...






GILA - Grace of Industry and Luster of Ashes






That deep purple seems to play a really big role in the theme of the line, as does the mountain print for the outter wear pieces. The tees and sneakers aren't bad but the jackets really steal the show here, can't wait to see these in person.

The Undercover Aoyama store will be re-opening on July 18th so be sure to check out the entire collection there.


I think one of my life goals is to be able to walk in my favorite stores like Undercover and actually buy the pieces that I fall in love with... without caring about the price tag of course.


-john-

via Jun

Honeyee 100 Day Blog Relay Restart?

Honeyee has one of the best collections of featured bloggers out there (Nigo, Jun Takashi, Pharrell, as well as the heads of Visvim, Neighborhood, and Collete) which is one of the reasons that I find myself there at least once a day. And for the past few months there has been this little timer on the top bar that was counting down days, hours, minutes, seconds, for their "100 Day Blog Relay". A couple days ago the countdown finally reached this ....

The end. Now I don't know what I was expecting at the end? fireworks? a party? new site? Something!

But all we got is a new screen where all of the blogs used to be...



I'm not mad, just kinda confused as to what's going on and what exactly the 100 Day Blog Relay is/ was? Apparently it will be restarting tomorrow though, maybe with some exciting new bloggers!

Sorry for the um, lack of information in this post, but if anyone knows what exactly this relay is all about please let me know.


-john-

Nowhere Pop-Up Shop @ Dover Street Market

The collaboration pop-up shop, Nowhere, from Nigo and Jun Takashi has finally opened at the Dover Street Market in London.



For more info on the history of Nowhere and on the pop-up shop, read more from my previous post here.


-john-


via BBC/IC

Undercover "Zipper/ Button" Cardigan

Jun Takashi and Undercover always present some interesting ways to look at clothing and this season is no exception. The "Zipper/ Button" cardigan is just one of the pieces that keeps you looking curiously.





Love this. Need this.
Coming in the charcoal and black, the picture shows the buttons being fully functional to the cardigan while the zipper is left for the aesthetics. However looking closer the zipper appears to be an option also if you want to leave the buttons to chill (think the original would still look better though). Interesting indeed.



-john-

via slam & atelier

NOWHERE @ The Dover Street Market

NOWHERE, the original shop opened by Nigo and Jun Takahashi back in the 90's, will soon be making a return appearance at The Dover Street Market.



NOWHERE was opened back in the day in Harajuku and was the original Bape and Undercover stores before they existed. NOWHERE will open again for a limited period of time in the basement of Dover Street Market starting January 17th '09 selling A Bathing Ape products and exclusive products made by Nigo and Jun together under the NOWHERE name.

A brief NOWHERE line by Jun and Nigo, that's one thing I'm really excited to see. No idea what kinds of products this throw back line will bring, guess we'll just have to wait and see. Get ready London.


-john-