Collection: The Soloist
THE FASHIONISTA BIBLE · JAPONISTA UNIVERSE
The Soloist: Miyashita After Number (N)ine
Takahiro Miyashita founded Number (N)ine in 1997 and left it in 2009. At Number (N)ine he reworked youth culture with a punk edge, drawing on Gus Van Sant’s films and the alternative music of the 1990s, and the label’s early seasons are still among the most sought-after in Japanese menswear.
The Soloist, which he began after leaving, is quieter and more exacting. Deconstruction and handwork run through it: leather piping on tailoring, garments built from linings, references so oblique that they are easy to miss. He avoids menswear staples such as the perfecto jacket and the trench, and even a hoodie carries considered detail.
The collection will fill as the archive grows. Until then, the Number (N)ine collection holds the earlier chapter of the same story.
The Hunting Salon™
If you are looking for a particular Soloist or Number (N)ine piece, the Hunting Salon™ can assist discreetly with search, verification and shipping.
Curator’s note: The Soloist belongs to the generation that followed the Paris pioneers, in the company of Undercover and Sacai. Continue with the Fashionista Bible, the directory of Japanese fashion designers and the collector guides.
Frequently asked questions
Is The Soloist the same label as Number (N)ine?
No. Number (N)ine was founded in 1997 and ended for Miyashita in 2009; The Soloist is his later label.
How is condition described?
Every piece carries a Japanese condition rank from N to C, explained in Japanese Condition Ranks Explained.
Do you ship worldwide?
Yes. Duties vary by destination; see Import Duties on Luxury Goods from Japan.
Read more: Rock, Print and Reverence: Hysteric Glamour, Number (N)ine and WACKO MARIA · Ura-Harajuku: A Reader’s Guide to the Back Lanes and the Labels That Made Them
Index terms: the soloist · thesoloist · takahiro miyashita · number nine · number (n)ine · miyashita the soloist · japanese menswear archive · deconstructed tailoring