A-POC ABLE ISSEY MIYAKE and Brooklyn-based design studio SOAR NY challenge the 'New Frontier of Clothing and Graphic Design'
The joint project 'TYPE-XV SOAR NY project,' which realizes new expressions by combining unique pleating technology with graphic design, will officially launch in Japan, Europe, and North America starting in April.
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- 📰 Published: March 31, 2026 at 20:00
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Design studio SOAR NY, based in Brooklyn, New York (Representative: Masaki Hanahara), has officially launched the 'TYPE-XV SOAR NY project' in collaboration with the engineering team led by Yoshiyuki Miyamae at 'A-POC ABLE ISSEY MIYAKE.' In this project, SOAR NY has taken on the challenge of 'updating clothing through graphics' while approaching it with a unique design philosophy.
The first items were announced in March 2026, and the second wave launched in Japan on April 1st. Future expansions are planned for London, Milan, Paris, and New York (online only).
Graphic design that responds to clothing structure and body movement:
This project explores a new relationship between clothing and graphic design by designing in conjunction with the structure of the garment and the mobility of the fabric. The project was born from the resonance between A-POC ABLE ISSEY MIYAKE's experimental approach to manufacturing and SOAR NY's vivid colors and dynamic, moving compositions. SOAR NY uses 'Momentum' as a key keyword in their graphic design, and this philosophy is reflected in the current designs. Rather than simply placing graphics on clothing, the designs were meticulously crafted through numerous pattern verifications, assuming the 3D garment construction and the 'Baked Stretch' pleating process, so that beauty emerges through body movement and changes in perspective.
Visuals tailored to each store:
In conjunction with the clothing design, the world of the graphics is also deployed in stores. Each store, including ISSEY MIYAKE GINZA / 442, A-POC ABLE ISSEY MIYAKE / AOYAMA, and A-POC ABLE ISSEY MIYAKE / KYOTO, features different visuals. The displays, including mannequins, are reconstructed from the patterns, creating a visual expression where clothing, body, and space are integrated.
Possibilities of new expressions created by global brands and design studios:
This project demonstrates that collaboration between a brand originating in Japan and a globally active design studio can expand possibilities beyond product development. The designs are conceived from an aesthetic perspective that assumes a global market, achieving a boldness in color and composition that has not been seen before. By extending the graphic concept to store visuals, displays, and videos, the project's worldview is expressed from multiple angles.
Comment from Yoshiyuki Miyamae, Designer of A-POC ABLE ISSEY MIYAKE:
'I have long been attracted to the exquisite balance in Mr. Hanahara's designs, where vivid colors and dynamic compositions coexist. I felt that by combining his graphic design with our unique 'Baked Stretch' technology, we could expand the range of expression. Despite many constraints, after repeated dense dialogues, we arrived at a unique expression method of incorporating graphic design into the Baked Stretch patterns. It was a project where I realized the thrill of collaborating with external partners.'
TYPE-XV SOAR NY project items:
SOAR NY has created original motifs with vivid colors and playful typography by precisely combining the 'Baked Stretch' technique with graphic design. Three different graphics are developed as dress and pant designs. The T-shirt series features dynamic graphics printed on the seamless knit that symbolizes A-POC, highlighting the powerful and contemporary patterns unique to SOAR NY.
Masaki Hanahara:
After working for 14 years as a Creative Director/Art Director at Shiseido, he served as CD for the global brand SHISEIDO in NY for 3 years, and established SOAR NY in 2022. He challenges the expansion of the possibilities of graphic design while crossing genres from branding to public art.
The first items were announced in March 2026, and the second wave launched in Japan on April 1st. Future expansions are planned for London, Milan, Paris, and New York (online only).
Graphic design that responds to clothing structure and body movement:
This project explores a new relationship between clothing and graphic design by designing in conjunction with the structure of the garment and the mobility of the fabric. The project was born from the resonance between A-POC ABLE ISSEY MIYAKE's experimental approach to manufacturing and SOAR NY's vivid colors and dynamic, moving compositions. SOAR NY uses 'Momentum' as a key keyword in their graphic design, and this philosophy is reflected in the current designs. Rather than simply placing graphics on clothing, the designs were meticulously crafted through numerous pattern verifications, assuming the 3D garment construction and the 'Baked Stretch' pleating process, so that beauty emerges through body movement and changes in perspective.
Visuals tailored to each store:
In conjunction with the clothing design, the world of the graphics is also deployed in stores. Each store, including ISSEY MIYAKE GINZA / 442, A-POC ABLE ISSEY MIYAKE / AOYAMA, and A-POC ABLE ISSEY MIYAKE / KYOTO, features different visuals. The displays, including mannequins, are reconstructed from the patterns, creating a visual expression where clothing, body, and space are integrated.
Possibilities of new expressions created by global brands and design studios:
This project demonstrates that collaboration between a brand originating in Japan and a globally active design studio can expand possibilities beyond product development. The designs are conceived from an aesthetic perspective that assumes a global market, achieving a boldness in color and composition that has not been seen before. By extending the graphic concept to store visuals, displays, and videos, the project's worldview is expressed from multiple angles.
Comment from Yoshiyuki Miyamae, Designer of A-POC ABLE ISSEY MIYAKE:
'I have long been attracted to the exquisite balance in Mr. Hanahara's designs, where vivid colors and dynamic compositions coexist. I felt that by combining his graphic design with our unique 'Baked Stretch' technology, we could expand the range of expression. Despite many constraints, after repeated dense dialogues, we arrived at a unique expression method of incorporating graphic design into the Baked Stretch patterns. It was a project where I realized the thrill of collaborating with external partners.'
TYPE-XV SOAR NY project items:
SOAR NY has created original motifs with vivid colors and playful typography by precisely combining the 'Baked Stretch' technique with graphic design. Three different graphics are developed as dress and pant designs. The T-shirt series features dynamic graphics printed on the seamless knit that symbolizes A-POC, highlighting the powerful and contemporary patterns unique to SOAR NY.
Masaki Hanahara:
After working for 14 years as a Creative Director/Art Director at Shiseido, he served as CD for the global brand SHISEIDO in NY for 3 years, and established SOAR NY in 2022. He challenges the expansion of the possibilities of graphic design while crossing genres from branding to public art.
FAQ
What is the TYPE-XV project?
It is a joint project that fuses A-POC ABLE ISSEY MIYAKE's pleating technology with SOAR NY's graphic design.
Where can I purchase the items?
They are available at major stores in Japan, with future launches planned in London, Milan, Paris, and New York.
What is Baked Stretch?
It is a unique pleating technique that uses special glue to expand fabric at high temperatures, transforming flat cloth into 3D shapes.