Julius designer Tatsuro Horikawa has been interviewed for the latest issue of Scoute. This is the first interview I’ve seen with the Tokyo based designer, and the first good insight into the brains behind one of the most compelling labels of our era’s. While Julius has been around the last 7 years, its only over the past 2-3 we’ve really seen it come to light.

“Avant-garde author William S. Burroughs created “Interzone” to represent a metaphorical, stateless area, loosely based on post war Tangier, which became a haven for criminals, artists, drug smugglers and tax-evading tycoons due to it’s falling between various competing occupying countries’ rules and laws. The head-quarters of Tatsuro Horikawa, the mastermind behind infamous Japanese Clothing Phenomenon Julius, seems to occupy a similarly ambiguous place.”

Read the interview here.

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Recently we previewed this latest collaboration between Visvim and mastermind JAPAN, a project which sees the Skagway High as the canvas. Maintaining a subdued and traditional design the outcome reflects both labels background with the black upper and white accents.

Thanks to Bee for the detailed look.

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mastermind JAPAN has released these peco boots in conjunction with their S/S 2010 collection. They seem to be using a cotton canvas for most of the boot with their skull design embroidered around the shoe. The heel looks to be white leather and is emblazoned with their iconic logo as well. My favorite part about this boot has to be the stark contrast of black and white.

Now Available at Human Behaviour. $6980 HKD

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How would you describe your work?

I merge all I see around me and boil them down to the ideas that frame my collections. In that sense, my design is very personal. It’s not so much about the looks or image.

What are the philosophies behind your work? What are the things that are important to you that you try to interweave into your designing?

I never do concept collections, deliberately not. I try to let it grow organically. I have been playing drums since an early age and love the feeling of free-styling in jazz music. I love to experience that feeling while designing as well. I keep everything open to the very last minute. I can only work like that.

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The relationship between Visvim and mastermind JAPAN has really flourished in recent seasons, most notably with footwear. Their latest coming together has seen a backpack and waist pack come to fruition. With detailing second to none we get a closer look at the backpack which features a very interesting monotone all over print which incorporates the branding of both entities. In addition the feature of a Horween Leather is another unique facet which certainly impresses and adds to the quality.

Info from Anytime via HB.

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Continuing their collaborative relationship his winter season, mastermind Japand and visvim create their special edition of the Zip Skagway high top boots. Featuring a silver side zipper on the outsides of the boots, they also consist of a ‘Chuck Taylor’ looking toe cap in white and silver eyelets. 

Up close images will be surfacing very soon.

Image: Sense Magazine

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mastermind JAPAN are renowned for their association with the skull motif which really found its location during the 90’s. Having grounded themselves and refined their luxurious aesthetic mastermind JAPAN has developed with great distinction. Their spring/summer 2010 collection consists of great mix of colors with olive and grey accompanied by the black that typifies the label. In addition we get a first look at the upcoming collaboration with Visvim, a Skagway High.

Thanks to O’logy for the images.

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Futura, one of the most influential artist in the history of street art has collaborated with Casio on the DW-5600 G-shock. An updated version of the very first original DW-5000 model that came out in 1983. The functionality and simple aesthetics of the DW-5600 model has made it a clear favorite amongst labels as the watch of choice for collaborative work (previous collabs include Bape, Alife, Mastermind, Margaret Howell to name a few). This Futura version features additional graphic detailing consisting of Futura’s trademark script writing on a classic matt black watch face and strap. Available from this weekend onwards (28th Nov) at Futura Laboratories.

Info: FLshop

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As one approaches the chic, monochromatic façade, the bold multi-colored interior walls are revealed through the central atrium.

Common areas such as the lobby and the library on the ground floor, and the spa, fitness gym, and bar lounge on the top floor are all designed with Wonder-wall’s distinctively detailed and luxuriously modern design ethos. Having created some of the best retail spaces in the industry (see here for a full list),  it is great to see Wonderwall take his design to another new level. The building is expected to be completed by January 2010, followed by an official launch in March.  Take a look at some of the preview images or the conceptual computer rendered video tour below.

http://www.aomi-project.com/

Images:  excite.ism

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The celebratory 10th anniversary collection from SOPH. has seen a string of high profile collaborations between Hirofumi Kiyonaga’s label and some of the most iconic contemporary and heritage brands in the world.  Consumers can now get hold of these items and to celebrate the launch Japanese department store Isetan has created a SOPH. installation including all the collaborations from A.P.C., Nike, Mastermind, Lacoste, Supreme and more.

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THE CONTEMPORARY FIX / Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo 3-12-14

Info: SENSE

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Images Highsnob

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Image Honeyee

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Words from Mega of Black Scale.

‘A few months back in April we introduced The Tenderloin Project to our friends, families and the viewers of our blog. Sean Desmond and John Elliott are the masterminds behind this amazing project that takes us on a journey through the everyday struggle through one of San Francisco’s most infamous neighborhoods. Sean Desmond and John Elliott asked us to be a part of the project and we felt it was an amazing opportunity to join forces and showcase their amazing work as a collaboration through our line. All the proceeds will be donated to the Tenderloin District to help build the community for the homeless. Hope exists and giving back to the community a little at a time makes a difference. This is our start. In the next coming weeks we will have more information on the event and the products that we will be releasing.

“The Tenderloin Project” is an ongoing artistic endeavor focused on one of San Francisco’s most marginalized neighborhoods, The Tenderloin. Utilizing the interactive mediums of photography and film, we aim to capture a compelling and honest portrait of this diverse community.

With living exhibitions that will travel through San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York the project will be showcased in a variety of outlets, creating access for a range of viewers to see these intimate, yet objective images, and to understand what life is like in the Tenderloin.

The project will culminate in publishing the images in book form, with proceeds from the sales being donated to organizations that promote and give access to art in the Tenderloin. This, we feel, will allow our project to live on for years and generations to come in the form of art within the community.”

Source Hypebeast

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