The m ù_ concept, "clothes are made from fabric," is something that was inherited from designer Kimura's predecessor brand, LOOPÉ .
This means that Kimura, who has been involved in clothing design for over 20 years, frequently visiting fabric stores and sewing factories around the country and building strong relationships with Japanese craftsmen, has maintained a consistent approach to clothing design: "Starting from the fabric brings us closer to the ideal clothing."
The reason why Kimura updated the EASY TROUSERS, which was well received at LOOPÉ , and chose it as m ù_ 's debut item is because his passion for making clothes has not changed, and because this item is the benchmark for m ù_ .
-Why did you choose an item sold at LOOPÉ as one of your brand's debut items?
Kimura: Even though the brand changes, I always have the image in my mind that "the same clothes look different depending on who wears them," and EASY TROUSERS is the basis or standard for that.
I discovered this fabric when I was starting LOOPÉ and created EASY TROUSERS , but I paid great attention to the details and silhouette so that the shoes can look completely different depending on the wearer's atmosphere, preferences, and coordination.
Perhaps thanks to this, it has resonated with many customers and become one of LOOPÉ 's most popular items.
In starting m ù_ , I am thinking of doing some experimental items, such as using fabric processing that wasn't possible with LOOPÉ , but the fact that I chose EASY TROUSERS as my first item instead of something like that also means that these pants will be the standard for the brand.
-About the fabric
Kimura: It's the same fabric as LOOPÉ, a TC (a polyester and cotton blend) that has been treated with Nidom Bio. TC is a firm and durable fabric, but by applying this treatment to the fabric, it creates a smooth drape and a soft texture.
I was looking for a soft fabric to use, and when a fabric store showed me some samples that had been processed and tested, I found this fabric among them and had an idea for it.
Although it's a fabric that's also used for work items such as TC, it looks a bit like wool and has a tailored look.
I thought this fit my image of how something looks different depending on the wearer.
-What are the features of EASY TROUSERS?
Kimura: This item combines the casual, easy-to-wear elements of TC 's easy pants with the dress-like feel that I felt when I saw the fabric.
No matter how dressy it may look, if you were to make easy pants out of it, it would just become a casual item.
So, we added stitching to the placket, used the same fabric for the drawstring, and added a more formal feel to the pants, like slacks, by changing the way the tucks are placed. The hem can also be turned up once so that the seams are not visible when the pants are worn.
However, there is plenty of fabric around the hips and thighs, so they are still comfortable to wear like easy pants.
All of our staff have them, and the look they give off changes completely depending on the mood of each person.
It doesn't really bother me if we're all standing in the store wearing the same thing; each person has their own style, so in the end it all looks like them.
The atmosphere changes not only with the person but also with the outfit.
Of course, the look can change dramatically depending on the top you wear, but just changing the shoes you pair it with can also make a big difference, which I think is also appealing.
-What are your preferences for the silhouette?
Kimura: I thought a lot about how to make the most of the drape of this fabric. Because it has a soft texture, it can look a bit sloppy, We paid particular attention to the position, depth and angle of the tucks to create a flowing drape feel within the three-dimensional form.
I was conscious of creating an elegant oversized piece that adults could wear, so I think I managed to create a silhouette that is not too loose and has just the right amount of relaxed feel.
-What was updated this time
Kimura: I like LOOPÉ's EASY TROUSERS and wear them often, but I thought the waist was a little big.
The reason is that I felt like they would fall down a little while wearing them, so I wanted to fix that.
However, if you simply try to make the waist smaller, you will have to change the silhouette, and the whole garment, including the hips, will become tighter. If it becomes tighter, the drape will be lost, and the good qualities of these pants will disappear.
So we added another tuck to the side and made the waist area smaller, without changing the amount of fabric around the hips.
This keeps the silhouette and drape intact, but adds a little extra grip at the waist, making it less likely to fall down.
The position, depth and angle of the tuck have been carefully calculated so as not to change the silhouette.
-About the new charcoal color
Kimura: I chose the heathered gray because it emphasizes the wool-like feel. I like the slacks-like feel.
-The position of EASY TROUSERS in the mù_ brand
Kimura: At the core of our work is the desire for our clothes to be completed by the person who wears them.
These EASY TROUSERS are items that can be worn casually or dressy depending on the person wearing them. In a good way, they don't lean too much towards either style.
I have lots of ideas for items to release in the future, but by having EASY TROUSERS as the standard for the brand, I believe we will be able to have connections to each other like branches and leaves.
EASY TROUSERS
Colour: GRAYISH BROWN/ CHARCOAL/BLACK
Size: S/M/L/XL
Price: ¥26,400
▼Product page here
EASY TROUSERS GRAYISH BROWN
EASY TROUSERS CHARCOAL
EASY TROUSERS BLACK