When launching the brand mù_ , bottoms were determined to be the core item, and a variety of items such as EASY TROUSERS , CLOWN PANTS , and PIN TUCK DENIM TROUSERS were offered, but tops were limited to two types of T- shirts.
However, this T- shirt is also simple, but the attention to detail and fabric makes it a masterpiece that embodies the brand's philosophy of "elegant oversized clothing that adults can wear."
The SHORT SLEEVE LOGO T in particular is made from a fabric that is so smooth you can't help but groan when you pick it up, and its high-quality drape enhances the satisfaction you feel when wearing it.
This T- shirt embodies the essence of designer Kimura, who creates clothes based on the brand concept of "clothes are made from fabric."
-Why did you only sell T-shirts when you launched your brand?
Kimura: When I first started this brand, I decided to focus on bottoms.
Therefore, to allow the focus to be on the bottom, we limited the top variations to only white and black T- shirts.
For us, the whole body Rather than thinking of having customers coordinate their outfits with mù_ , we wanted the clothes to blend gently into the customer's wardrobe, so in that sense we chose simple items for the tops to begin with.
However, that doesn't mean we just make ordinary T- shirts; we paid close attention to the fabric and details, and we offer two types of T-shirts - the SHORT SLEEVE LOGO T with a refined feel, and the SHORT SLEEVE PRINT T with a casual feel ( sold only in stores) - so that customers can enjoy them according to their preferences.
- About the fabric of the SHORT SLEEVE LOGO T
Kimura: This time, I wanted to make an elegant T- shirt, so I used Supima cotton, which has longer fiber length at the cotton stage compared to regular cotton.
Because the fibres are long, they are less likely to pill when twisted, giving the fabric a lustrous appearance, and the fabric is then further mercerised.
This mercerization process is intended to give the fabric a glossy look, but the final result will vary depending on the quality of the original cotton.
The Supima cotton used this time has a natural luster, giving it a more elegant and deep luster similar to silk.
-What is this indescribably smooth feel?
Kimura: When mercerizing, the fabric inevitably becomes a little stiff.
So, by applying water-brushing to it, it gets this smooth feel.
The fabric store described it as "like aged cotton," and I feel that this description fits perfectly.
I don't know if aged cotton actually exists (laughs).
-What is water brushing?
Kimura: Brushing Supima cotton of this count would damage the thin fabric, so it's not normally done.
To begin with, it is not common to brush T-shirt fabric, but this time I was thinking about how I needed something that not only had a glossy look but also was soft to the touch, and that's when I discovered this water-brushed fabric.
The exact processing used is kept secret, so we don't know the details of the process, but by delicately brushing only the surface of the yarn, it has become a fabric with a soft, smooth feel and excellent drape with a soft, falling feel.
-What do you like about this fabric?
Kimura: Even though it's 100% cotton, it has this elegant luster and feel, and even based on my experience of having come into contact with countless fabrics, I felt that it was a cut above the rest.
And also the way the black colour comes out.
There are very few fabrics that can beautifully express such a deep black color.
-Did you pay particular attention to the color black?
Kimura: We were extremely particular about it.
When I found it at the fabric store, it only came in white, but I thought that with this fabric I could make a T- shirt that looked like a dress.
With regards to the black in particular, we specified a deep black, as we felt that with the texture and drape of this fabric it would be possible to express the deep black colour seen in formal items such as tuxedos.
Unlike wool fabric, which has long fibers, if the dye is made this concentrated with ordinary cotton fabric, there are disadvantages such as color fading. However, because the fibers of this fabric are long, the dye penetrates easily, resulting in a very elegant, deep, rich black color.
I have a lot of black T- shirts myself, and when I compare them, the difference in the shade of black is immediately obvious.
The color black is truly profound.
-What is this logo?
Kimura: Rather than using a regular brand logo on this fabric, which has a formal element, we deliberately used a logo that resembles a sports team, thereby incorporating an active element.
If you make an elegant T- shirt out of this fabric, it will just end up being a high-end T- shirt.
That's not what I want to express with this brand.
Even though we used such high-quality fabric, it was important to us that it could be worn casually as a T -shirt, so we put a lot of thought into not only the logo but also the silhouette and details.
-About the silhouette
Kimura: The brand's philosophy is "elegant oversized clothing that adults can wear," so we keep that in mind.
First of all, the position of the shoulders.
The shoulders are dropped in the pattern to create an oversized look, but to balance this with the drape that flows downwards of the fabric, they are set a little higher than a typical oversized T-shirt.
However, if we added normal length sleeves to that shoulder position, it would end up looking like an ordinary T-shirt silhouette, so we made the sleeves longer while considering the overall balance, achieving both a dropped shoulder look that doesn't look sloppy and an oversized silhouette.
The inside diameter of the neck is not as large as a regular T-shirt, but by narrowing the collar, it doesn't look too loose and gives a casual impression.
As for the body, it is almost unnoticeable, but it tapers gently towards the hem.
This is done to prevent the pants from looking sloppy, but the tight hem also helps to accentuate the silhouette of the pants.
Because the fabric is soft and drapey, if we simply made a large T- shirt, it would just end up being a loose T- shirt, so we put a lot of thought into making it comfortable to wear while still taking advantage of the elegant texture of the fabric.
-Reasons for mixing elegant and casual elements
Kimura: I like vintage and street style clothes, and I also like elegant things, but what I want to express with my brand right now is not one of those, but a mix of several elements.
The ideal is for it to be enjoyed freely depending on the wearer's style, and I would like to have fun coordinating it in various ways with my own wardrobe.
But when I actually look for clothes like that, I can't find many.
So, although it may just be a matter of my own personal feelings, I want to create such things that seem familiar but don't, and that has led to "elegant oversized clothing that adults can wear."
This SHORT SLEEVE LOGO T was originally conceived as a T -shirt that I would want to own, but it's also an item that I hope everyone can enjoy freely.
SHORT SLEEVE LOGO T
Colour: WHITE/BLACK
Size: M/L/XL
Price: ¥14,300
▼Product page here
SHORT SLEEVE LOGO T-SHIRT WHITE
SHORT SLEEVE LOGO T-SHIRT BLACK