This season’s collection, titled “INDUST” after its industrial theme, emerged from a contemplation of the distance between the artificial and natural world. The story began with the Dobermann Pinscher, a breed created to function as guard dogs, symbolizing mankind’s artificial control of nature. By extrapolation, Hashimoto next turned his attention to industrial Germany, then the German national soccer team uniforms and the Porsche 911. This acrobatic leap across wide-ranging references is perhaps one factor that sets Hashimoto apart from other Japanese designers.

In true Germanic fashion, the resulting collection exudes a strongly structural mood, particularly evident in the tailoring where the brand excels. Standout pieces included a distinctive jacket with broad shoulders and a waistline shaped to echo the form of the Porsche 911, impressing with its sublimely balanced silhouette. The “cut-off” was another keyword this season, expressed in sharp shirt collars, angular peaked lapels on jackets and coats, deep vents slicing through the back of coats, and diagonally cut trouser hems. These details were reportedly inspired by the Dobermann, whose naturally floppy ears and tails are surgically cropped shortly after birth to suit the aesthetic whims of their human masters, contributing to the sense of tension that underpins this season’s collection.

Yet circling back to the aforementioned balance, Hashimoto skillfully incorporates elements that provide a release from this tension, ensuring the collection remains relevant to the present era. For example, the inorganic black and gray monochrome color palette was contrasted with refreshing primary colors, soft pastels, as well as rich yellow and Bordeaux. Draped shirt fronts, blouses made from smooth fabrics, and bomber jackets with rounded silhouettes similarly added a softness that lightened the otherwise rigid lineup.

In this way, the collection was a compelling microcosm of Yuki Hashimoto’s unique skill set, combining a craftsman’s fixation on details and a designer’s eye for bringing the bigger narrative into focus.