With Spring Summer 2027, In Praise of Bamboo Shadows, IM MEN transforms the quiet beauty of bamboo shadows into a collection where light, movement and layered silhouettes take centre stage. Presented on June 25, 2026, at Césure, a cultural venue in Paris’s 5th arrondissement, the collection explores how fleeting shadows, transparency and texture can be translated into clothing.
The collection draws its inspiration from East Asian decorative arts featuring bamboo motifs, discovered during a visit to the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. Mist-covered bamboo forests depicted in ink wash paintings and the intricate patterns created through the paper stencils used in katazome kimono dyeing become the foundation of a collection that transforms their enigmatic atmosphere and quiet elegance into a contemporary expression.
The show’s scenography reflects the same vision. An imaginary landscape of black bamboo and shadows, layered with translucent veils and blurred figures, creates an ever-changing setting where depth and movement unfold throughout the presentation. This sense of layering and fluidity is echoed in the garments themselves.
Throughout the collection, IM MEN combines traditional Japanese craftsmanship with innovative materials. Prints inspired by bamboo shadows are created using the ironaki dyeing technique on fabrics woven from bamboo fibres and organic cotton, while lightweight nylon, hand-dyed denim, three-dimensional jacquards and hand-pleated textiles reinterpret the structure, rhythm and natural forms of bamboo. The silhouettes range from generous, enveloping volumes to softly draped shapes, highlighting movement, depth and lightness.
Accessories continue the story. The CHIMAKI LEATHER BAG takes its inspiration from the traditional chimaki wrapped in bamboo leaves, while SORTIE VEILED, developed as part of the ISSEY MIYAKE FOOT project in collaboration with ASICS, encloses the shoe’s structural elements beneath a single continuous layer of fabric. The result preserves the comfort and freedom of movement of a sneaker while integrating naturally into everyday life.
With In Praise of Bamboo Shadows, IM MEN demonstrates how a fleeting natural phenomenon can become a complete design vision. Shadow, texture and movement come together in a collection that blends traditional inspiration with contemporary construction, creating an understated elegance that feels constantly in motion.
