Designer Hide Nakamura introduces his brand ‘Ei Nakamura’ in a captivating exhibition, showcasing his inaugural collection ‘Blue Island’ alongside a unique immersive fitting experience.
Fashion designer Hide Nakamura has officially launched his brand “Ei Nakamura” with a collection debuting for the Fall/Winter 2025 season. The unveiling took place during a two-day exhibition on March 22 and 23, designed to offer attendees an immersive experience that showcased Nakamura’s innovative fitting experience system, which is currently in development alongside the brand’s creative offerings.
Nakamura, who previously worked as a researcher at SONY, pursued his passion for fashion by studying at the fashion school “coconogacco.” His career began to take shape when he was one of six selected students to collaborate on projects with Mr. Hirobumi Kurino, a prominent figure associated with the school and United Arrows. Following his tenure at SONY, Nakamura established “Ei Nakamura” to bring his artistic vision to a wider audience.
The brand’s concept revolves around “Dressing to Journey through a World of Memories.” This innovative theme seeks to capture the essence of what Nakamura describes as “Unseen yet remembered.” By integrating a sci-fi aesthetic into thorough explorations of reality, the brand opens up a complex and imaginative worldview.
The inaugural collection, titled “Blue Island,” features garments that reflect the journey of a collector traversing memories of an island. This concept draws upon extensive research into topics such as gravity, minerals, and geological layers. The collection includes eight distinct items, each with unique characteristics. Among them is a bag designed to represent stone veins, priced at 41,800 yen, described as “a bag for collecting crystals.” Another notable piece is a fur bag modeled after a water bottle, crafted from waste sheep shear and priced at 58,300 yen. The most expensive item, a coat priced at 239,800 yen, showcases a lining printed with photographs taken through the ancient technique of cyanotype, documenting the coat’s creation process.
In conjunction with the exhibition, a ZINE titled “YAMA” is available for purchase, which summarizes the research behind the collection. The publication emphasizes a “Research Culture,” promoting the idea that research equates to exploring and believing in the unknown, encouraging individuals to actively seek out information and broaden their perspectives in everyday life.
The exhibition venue also prominently features an installation of Nakamura’s immersive fitting experience. Created in partnership with media artist Miki Manabe, this installation allows attendees to check their entire figure by projecting a rear view captured by a camera into a mirror. Simultaneously, videos that encapsulate the brand’s worldview envelop users in a visual narrative, enhancing their connection to the experience. Plans are underway for future updates to this innovative fitting experience, in tandem with upcoming collection releases.
Source: Noah Wire Services
