Sweater here from the Yohji Yamamoto Regulation line, one of the ongoing Yohji collections. I believe Regulation started in 2012, making it one of his newer lines. A few words about Yohji Yamamoto first: Yohji is one of the top designers in the world. Not just Japanese designers, but designers anywhere. His aesthetic is purely his own. Others have copied it to some degree, but there’s no mistaking the original. He’s been going steadily since the 1960s, sometimes more popular and well-regarded than others, but always there. He was a part of the “new wave” of Japanese designers, along with Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garcons and Issey Miyake, that ushered in the modern era of avant-garde Japanese fashion.
Yohji’s aesthetic is looser than most other brands. He intentionally cuts large, allowing maximum comfort and freedom of movement, while also leaving more to the imagination. It’s a definite design philosophy, very much at odds with most other fashion labels. At the same time, Yohji’s quality and construction is some of the best out there. Textiles are all custom, and his lines are almost exclusively made in Japan, typically in black. Retail prices are unfortunately ridiculously expensive for new Yohji pieces, although it’s an investment in something timeless and sure to last you.
Yohji’s perhaps best known collection for men is the Pour Homme line, Yohji’s runway collection typically shown in Paris. He also designs a number of other lines including Regulation, Y’s/Y’s for men (recently revamped), Ground Zero, Gothic, and the Costume d’Homme line. Regulation is sold alongside the Pour Homme collection these days. Proportions are maybe not as extreme as Pour Homme but the loose aesthetic and excellent quality materials are still very much in effect, as are the extremely expensive retail prices.
Here we have Yohji’s take on the classic cardigan. Silhouette is a bit loose as you might expect, but not the balloon-level proportions some of Yohji’s more out-there stuff can get in to. Fabric is an 85% cotton, 15% lyocell blend. Lyocell is a type of rayon actually, giving the material a pretty unique feel, a bit different from a standard cotton. This is a sweater weight fabric, good as an outer layer on a fall or spring day, and equally good as a mid layer when it gets colder. Given the somewhat loose construction, it is also ideal for layering. Features a number of buttons going down the front, giving you some flexibility in how you can wear it, along with a crewneck detail and collection-specific Regulation tags on the back of the sweater and the left cuff.
Size is labeled a 3, fitting a medium or a large without much trouble. I measure the chest at 21” / 54cm, shoulders at 20” / 51cm, length at 29.5” / 75cm and sleeves at 23” / 59cm. The sweater comes in lightly used, very good shape. There is a bit of wear, but no holes, tears or stains. Made in Japan.
Shipping from Japan to anywhere will be $26.
