Visvim’s tenth anniversary was marked last year at Gyre in Tokyo by Visvim’s Study and Practice exhibition. More recently the show came to Dover Street Market- and we’re still kicking ourselves for not attending. The exhibition featured a collection of Archive Visvim pieces as well as antique Japanese textiles and collectibles from around the world. The photos we’ve seen of the show – in Inventory as well as on-line – are highly impressive.
In conjunction with the Study and Practice exhibition, the Japanese label released a book entitled Dissertation of Self-Verification: 2001-2011. Published in highly limited numbers, this hand-bound book features visuals and exclusive interviews from the brand’s short yet storied history. The way the brand has celebrated its decade of innovation has definitely lived up to expectations and it’s a pleasure to see such passion, knowledge and beauty shared with the world.
Although we don’t own much Visvim product – mainly due to the price tag – it is a brand that we have always admired, and one that we aspire to own lots more of in the future. For us, it is Visvim’s footwear that is at the heart of the brand. Starting over a decade ago, Hiroki Nakamura’s footwear line started with tweaking classic designs with quirky detailing and material upgrades. Now, Visvim is a pioneer of footwear, using functionality and comfort as base elements and combining these with the very pinnacle of high grade materials and manufacturing- uncompromising in every sense.
There is a great article in the latest Inventory Magazine, and we think they have perfectly articulated just why Visvim is so special:
‘Although the obsessive attention to detail and obstinate pursuit of high quality have become stereotypes of the modern Japanese clothing brand, Visvim avoids one of the greatest traps of its contemporaries. [...] The point of returning to the past is not just a conservative belief that everything older is somehow more meaningful. [...] Visvim actively combines its sometimes anachronistic material aspirations with the cutting-edge of high tech production.’
Photos from Study and Practice- Dover street Market:
Items at Study and Practice, Courtesy of Selectism:
1 comment
Sri Threads - Japanese Folk Textiles - The Milltown says:
Oct 3, 2012
[...] good, these textiles are now used for their beauty by high-end fashion labels from the likes of Visvim and Sri [...]