For its next capsule collection, Mr Porter is saying je t’aime Paris with Maison Kitsune for an 18-piece collection comprising graphic T-shirts and sweatshirts, polos, shirts, loafers, chinos and shorts. All made in an easy, neutral colour palette, stand-out pieces from the capsule include a sticker print camp collar shirt, bomber jacket with printed lining along with a printed tote and a pair of multi-panel loafers.
Maison Kitsune co-founder and creative director Gildas Loaec speaks about influences, design philosophies and the colliding worlds of fashion and music.
Tell us a little about this collection.
For our first exclusive collaboration with Mr Porter, we wanted to design a playful capsule collection that invites exploration. This collection — that we simply called “Voyage” — has been conceived from the idea of being a tourist who is travelling the world and collecting precious kitschy souvenirs from each city.
The collection presents some of Maison Kitsune’s wardrobe essentials reinterpreted for Mr Porter as well as new exclusive designs: for example, the bicolour leather loafer — part of our first footwear collection to be launched on May 2nd — has been created in an exclusive navy and cream colour way; the chambray shirt with a little fox head embroidery is something we never did before. It also features fun prints as an all over pattern with a mix of colourful stickers from different cities and a classic “I <3 Maison Kitsune”.
Is there a design philosophy you follow?
Good quality, great cuts, great fabrics… simply.
Most designers have a particular facet to their clothes identifiable as unique to that brand — what is yours?
The fox, of course! Kitsune means fox in Japanese.
I think we have more than 30 different types of foxes logo featured in our collections… the most iconic one being the tricolour fox.
What were your influences for this Mr Porter exclusive capsule collection?
Summer, travelling, enjoying life, Mr Porter.
Would you say it is easier or more difficult creating a capsule collection with a limited number of pieces?
It was really fun to do this exclusive Maison Kitsune capsule collection for Mr Porter. The fact that the number of pieces is limited actually helps to make the best choices in terms of designs. The result is comfy, chic and easy to travel with.
Many successful fashion brands have other facets to them (ACNE has a magazine, Missoni homeware and so on) — are there other areas you think that you may branch into?
Well, we’re already into the music industry with Kitsune, our super cool music label. We actually have a great project currently on all music streaming services called ‘Kitsune Hot Stream’ with two new songs uploaded every week. Beside this new type of music label, we are also running a more conservative one with great artists like Beau, Parcels, Tkay Maidza and Mothxr signed to the label. We also inaugurated our first coffee spot in 2013 in Tokyo: we have now four Cafe Kitsune in the world, including three in Paris in great locations such as in the Jardin du Palais Royal and one in Tokyo... with a few more coming up too.
Why partner with Mr Porter? What can they add to your current retail strategy?
Partner with Mr Porter is certainly essential to highlight the fact that Maison Kitsune is offering simple, effortless and easy chic clothes of good quality, for every day. We’re particularly very happy about our jeans, outdoor pieces and new shoe lines.
Maison Kitsune’s brand recognition is also probably more important in Japan so far and this exclusive collaboration with Mr Porter gives us the opportunity to introduce our brand to potential Anglo-Saxon customers and to develop Maison Kitsune’s brand recognition in anglo-influenced countries.
Go get yours
The Maison Kitsune X Mr Porter collection will go on sale from May 24 on Mr Porter.com. Prices start at Dh200.