SAD BUT TRUE

Takahiro Miyashita, Designer of Japanese label Number (N)ine will stop production as of Spring 2009 season.

Oddly I knew this for a minute, well assumed.
Quick Story....
I was in Sweden around fall last year and stumbled upon JUS(sick store i.e destination spot & ridiculous brand list) next to Cali Roots on that slated part of hill. Anyway they had great clothing lines and collaborations unseen in North American soil (from prominent brands already well established in USA) but only 4, yes 4 Number (N)ine pieces total. Now this is mid-shopping season in the early but visible stages of the coming recession. The time period where most stores had already been raffling through the playbook making sure numbers are hitting, week in and week out. When I saw the Number (N)ine section it just sparked something. Some brands take certain garments and exceed what the rest of the market is doing. Number (N)ine has their jeans. Number (N)ine jeans are dope but pricey like compared to Kstubi prices your pulling out a few more hundreds. We all know that a shopper unfamiliar with kstubi prices may draw a "WTF" look after seeing the price tag. So a smart store knows that if any person has the slightest inclination to purchase such a reputable pair of jeans from Number (N)ine or company like it that store must be ready for the most famously marketed commercial shopping season in the world (outside of Black Friday). It's like looking your best for prom night. In respects, JUS was not "tux'd up" with Number (N)ine clothing(tons of beautiful Comme des Garcon and others though) during fall so that tells me a lot about the brand's situation and early indicator of things to come.

I was really sad to hear this closure was official. As I and many others really appreciated their take on fashion. Personally couldn't pull off a lot of Number (N)ine garments but I really like the way it looked on those who could.

It seems to me that one of the many attributes that connect certain special designers and labels is bestowed ability to capture an historical moment, era, and even a lifestyle trend. When I think to Miyashita's connection with grunge era of rock and his ability to convey it so effortlessly, it's one of my favorites to see. I mean I don't want like to categorize one's style, I definitely feel Miyashita was multi-faceted but his love for the grunge-era oozed from many of his most popular garments. The Kurt Cobain tee series was grand!!




One of my favorite collections from Number (N)ine was Fall 2008 collection, properly titled, My Own Private Portland(on left show from Paris 2008). I think back to when I first saw the collection, My Own Private Portland, I thought, "Anyone of these pieces could be the anchor to base entire collection around". Well- crafted collection, full of investment pieces that will be relevent for ages to come. To me that is one of the greates accomplishments a brand can come across.

All in all a lot of people will be sadden to see the stop of Number (N)ine clothing. Though I would not be surprised to see Takahiro Miyashita make some guest appearances on a few labels soon.