Stone Island Celebrates Lunar New Year & Issey Miyake Unveils Wooden Specs in This Week’s Top Fashion News

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As a gamer with an eye for fashion and a heart for innovation, I find this roundup of new releases truly exhilarating! The convergence of outdoor aesthetics, technology, and unique materials in these collections is nothing short of remarkable.

Starting off with L.L. Bean’s JAPAN EDITION, the blend of retro and contemporary design elements is right up my alley. I can just imagine myself exploring a digital world in those windbreakers and vests!

Issey Miyake’s Wood frames are another standout for me. As someone who spends countless hours staring at screens, I could use a pair of these wooden frames to bring a touch of nature into my virtual life.

XS.SML’s SS25 collection is intriguing, with its emphasis on technical silhouettes and earthy tones. It reminds me of the digital camouflage I often use in my games—a perfect blend of fashion and functionality!

Finally, Hikaru Watanabe’s journey from patternmaker at N.HOOLYWOOD to designer is a testament to never stopping, never settling, much like our characters in the game world. And speaking of never settling, did you hear about the player who got stuck in a virtual tar pit for three days? He was finally rescued by a friendly T-Rex… with a crane!

This week’s fashion news saw a surge of Lunar New Year-themed collections in streetwear releases, while other designers revealed groundbreaking materials, localized lines, and individual projects.

During the Lunar New Year celebrations, more and more brands in the streetwear industry are taking part, and Stone Island and Carhartt are no exceptions. They revealed their Year of the Snake collections, which featured updated versions of classic styles with sophisticated festive touches. Following the announcement at Paris Fashion Week, Issey Miyake’s eyewear division presented a line of wooden glasses hand-carved by artisans. In Japan, L.L. Bean added new retro-inspired outerwear pieces to their JAPAN EDITION line. Lastly, an employee from N.HOOLYWOOD is gearing up to launch his own brand, XS.SML.

As a dedicated fashion enthusiast who’s always on the lookout for the latest trends, I find it incredibly helpful when resources like TopMob compile the top fashion stories of the week. Staying updated in this fast-paced industry can be quite challenging, but with their roundups, I never miss out on important news and insights that keep my wardrobe fresh and modern. It’s truly a lifesaver for someone like me who wants to stay at the forefront of style!

Stone Island Celebrates the Lunar New Year With “Year of the Snake ‘025” Collection


Among the stand-out collections from the consistent stream of Year of the Snake capsules is Stone Island’s subtle Lunar New Year capsule. While making subtle nods to the festivity’s serpentine inspiration with a sithering quilting pattern and red embroideries, the line maintains the timelessly modern Stone Island aesthetic. The “Year of the Snake 025” collection includes new jackets, pants, vests, hooded sweatshirts, crewneck sweatshirts, shorts, baseball caps and a messenger bag, each in silver or black with red details. Stone Island’s signature nylon metal makes up the garment-dyed jackets, which also boast detachable sleeves, transforming them into vests. Each purchase also arrives packaged in a special bright red bag with a silver Stone Island logo for a final touch of festivity.

Right now, you can get the “Year of the Snake ‘025” assortment from Stone Island at their online store as well as physical shops across the APAC area. It’s possible that this collection will become available worldwide within the next few weeks.

Carhartt WIP Debuts Japan-Exclusive Reversible Active Jacket

As I was browsing through the latest Carhartt Lunar New Year collection, one standout item really caught my attention – the New Year Active Jacket. Unlike their typical cotton duck canvas hooded work jackets, this one sports a unique faux green leather exterior. But what truly sets it apart is its reversible functionality.

Flip it inside out and you’ll find a sleek black diamond quilted liner, perfect for those who like to switch things up. The reverse side features a simple Carhartt word mark, accented with green trims and golden zipper details. It’s currently exclusive to Japan, available at Carhartt WIP stores across the country and on their official web store. So, if you’re a fan of something different and quality craftsmanship, this one’s definitely worth checking out!

Issey Miyake Eyes Debuts New “Wood” Frames


Issey Miyake has announced the launch of a new eyewear collection that utilizes wooden frames instead of traditional acetate. From Issey Miyake Eyes, a joint venture between Issey Miyake and Kaneko Optical, the “Wood” frame range features a rough-hewn texture hand-carved for a unique texture that cannot be replicated by industrial processes. The available shapes include Round, Hexagon, Square and Boston, each offered in an elegant black varnish. Priced at ¥55,000 JPY (approximately $348 USD), customers can choose their lens tint and shape suited to their taste. The “Wood” Issey Miyake Eyes collection is set to release on the brand’s webstore and retail outposts on January 6.

Currently, Issey Miyake’s brand namesakes appear to be advancing at a rapid rate, furthering the development of his legacy. In January of this year, the company’s IM MAN label, which was established in 2021, is scheduled to make its runway debut during Paris Men’s Fashion Week.

L.L. Bean Drops New JAPAN EDITION Outerwear Capsule


Blending retro outdoor aesthetics with domestic streetwear influences, L.L. Bean’s Japan-focussed JAPAN EDITION line introduces new outerwear tailored for the country’s customers.

1. The Windy Ridge Jacket, featuring a retro ’90s design, boasts spacious waist pockets, a broad buttoned flap, and two-tone nylon choices in off-white/forest green and black/forest green. In contrast, the Field Coat is a classic work jacket with corduroy highlights and golden accessories, available in beige and light blue cotton. Lastly, the Roxbury Vest resembles a windbreaker for layering purposes, offering a ’90s-inspired color scheme and an adjustable bungee waistband.

2. The Windy Ridge Jacket sports a lightweight design inspired by the 1990s, complete with roomy side pockets, a wide buttoned front, and two-tone nylon selections in off-white/forest green and black/forest green. On the other hand, the Field Coat embodies a traditional work jacket style, adorned with corduroy accents and golden hardware, offered in beige and light blue cotton. Last but not least, the Roxbury Vest mirrors the style of a windbreaker for layering purposes, featuring ’90s-inspired color patterns and an adjustable bungee waistband.

3. The Windy Ridge Jacket is a lightweight jacket inspired by the 1990s fashion trend, boasting large pockets at the waist, a wide button placket, and two-tone nylon options in off-white/forest green and black/forest green. Meanwhile, the Field Coat is a traditional work jacket with corduroy details and golden hardware, available in beige and light blue cotton. Lastly, the Roxbury Vest imitates a windbreaker for layering purposes, showcasing ’90s-inspired color combinations and an adjustable bungee waistband.

4. The Windy Ridge Jacket offers a lightweight design reminiscent of the 1990s, equipped with large pockets at the waist, a broad buttoned front, and two-tone nylon options in off-white/forest green and black/forest green. In contrast, the Field Coat represents a classic work jacket style, featuring corduroy accents and golden hardware, available in beige and light blue cotton. Lastly, the Roxbury Vest resembles a windbreaker for layering purposes, exhibiting ’90s-inspired color schemes and an adjustable bungee waistband.

5. The Windy Ridge Jacket is a lightweight piece inspired by ’90s fashion, boasting large pockets at the waist, a wide buttoned front, and two-tone nylon options in off-white/forest green and black/forest green. The Field Coat, on the other hand, embodies a traditional work jacket style with corduroy accents and golden hardware, available in beige and light blue cotton. Lastly, the Roxbury Vest mirrors the style of a windbreaker for layering purposes, featuring ’90s-inspired color palettes and an adjustable bungee waistband.

In Japan alone, the L.L. Bean JAPAN EDITION is exclusively available, leaving us to ponder how successfully these thoughtfully crafted designs might soar in their home market, as interest in outdoor aesthetics persistently expands there.

XS.SML’s SS25 Debut Collection Centers Around Technical Silhouettes and an Earthy Palette


Hikaru Watanabe, originally a patternmaker at N.HOOLYWOOD, launching his own label in Spring/Summer 2025 called XS.SML. The brand’s Instagram bio reads: “Is beauty just a question of looks, or could there be more to it than meets the eye?” reflecting its intellectual design vision.

The SS25 assortment features breathable, technical pieces such as short-sleeved shirts, button-ups, wide-leg trousers, shorts, and hooded windbreakers. This collection is presented in earthy colors like khaki, army green, taupe, and ocher, with a touch of ruching for a loose, wrinkled appearance. Keep up with the new label to stay informed about the debut line’s upcoming releases.

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2025-01-04 00:57