An unexpected collaboration has come to fruition in the men's fashion industry. This autumn, MR_BEAMS, a consolidation of BEAMS' two men's dress wear labels, will open as a physical store at ISETAN MEN'S . The two brands will release collaborative limited-edition items, which will be sold both online and offline.

It is extremely rare in the business world for competitors in the same industry to join forces. The collection being spearheaded by these two directors, who are leading the modern men's fashion industry, is sure to be a catalyst for revitalizing the industry, which has been stagnant due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

MR_BEAMS meets ISETAN MEN'S
View the list of custom-made products

• (Left) Shuhei Nishiguchi
  

  Nishiguchi, the director of BEAMS F, moved to Tokyo after transitioning from a staff member at BEAMS in the Kansai region to a men's buyer. He directs products while paying respect to the history of clothing and the background of manufacturing. Known for his love of vintage clothing, he has over 130,000 followers on Instagram, where he posts his unique styling incorporating vintage wear, and his book "Nishiguchi's Closet" (Gakken Plus), in which he puts together outfits using only his own clothes, has also become a hot topic.
  Instagram► @shuhei_nishiguchi

  
  (Right) Tomohiro Inaba
  

  Supervisor at Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building With his unique sense of combining classic and the latest men's fashion, he leads the dress department at ISETAN MEN'S . He handles many events and is also actively involved in media interactions such as Instagram Live and YouTube. He continues to engage in activities that go beyond the conventional framework of department stores, such as discovering new overseas brands and designers.
  
  

This is how the ultimate collaboration between MR_BEAMS and ISETAN MEN'S was born.

Although they operate in different formats, a "miraculous collaboration" between two giants of the fashion industry—a department store and a select shop—has come to fruition this autumn.

The two parties joined forces thanks to the presence of directors with whom they have a close personal relationship. These directors are Shuhei Nishiguchi of Beams F and Tomohiro Inaba of Mitsukoshi Isetan. Both are well-known figures in the media as rising stars in the men's clothing industry. In recent years, they have been building a new market by exchanging information and interacting with each other not only at exhibitions but also on social media.

Since last year, the fashion industry has been facing immeasurable damage due to restrictions on going out, reduced store hours, and the inability to travel abroad for purchasing. It was around this time that it all started with a casual remark from either of us: "I'd like to do something together."

Nishiguchi: "At first, I think we both just casually talked about how it would be nice to do something together, but during the pandemic, clothing started to be portrayed in a negative light. I myself wanted to do something to liven up men's fashion, so I started collaborating with other companies on things like Instagram Live. We wanted to create projects that aimed at coexistence, not competition, and that we could do ourselves."

Inaba: "I've always thought it would be great to do something with BEAMS someday. Mr. Nishiguchi is a senior figure to me, but he's very friendly and listens attentively, and as I talked with him, the idea of something that would be really fun to do gradually started to take shape."


"We want our customers to know that men's dress fashion can be much more enjoyable than they seem," the two men said in unison.

"BEAMS" and "ISETAN MEN'S" joined forces, and they were sure to create ideas that neither company could come up with on its own, as well as items that would delight customers. And if they were going to do it, they wanted to create something that would make the men's fashion industry go, "Wow!" As Mr. Nishiguchi recalls, "The level of enthusiasm was 50/50," and the gears suddenly, but powerfully, began to turn.

Bespoke dress clothing overseen by two generations of buyers.

In March, just as the fall exhibition was about to begin, the two rushed around to make special order requests. They picked out brands that they both carried and held sessions on-site. Even with the same brand, they discussed and bridged various differences, such as the items they purchased, the differences in colors and patterns, and the differing preferences of their customers.

Drumohr knitwear

Nishiguchi: "While striped color schemes are popular at our store, they weren't so popular at Isetan, which highlighted the differences between the two. However, reaching a consensus with Inaba-san went smoothly. I was also happy that the collaboration with ISETAN MEN'S allowed us to try out items that we don't usually carry at Beams F, such as custom-made cashmere fabrics."


Inaba: "During the on-site meetings, I thought the way we put together what we wanted to do like a puzzle was very typical of BEAMS. I learned a lot from Mr. Nishiguchi's speed in judging what was cool and what wasn't, and the abundance of ideas he had at his disposal."

INVERTERE coat

INVERTERE's duffel coat features a relaxed, modern silhouette. Made from 100% cashmere, it's a truly luxurious piece.

Nishiguchi: "This duffel coat is available in herringbone at Beams F, but by using Joshua Ellis' heavy-ounce 100% cashmere, I think we've created an item that's distinctly Isetan."

BERNARD ZINS Pants

BERNARD ZINS is a French brand specializing in trousers. Based on the trendy French Ivy League theme, BEAMS F has been developing original patterns for them. This time, we ordered a straight-leg style that falls below the knee. Furthermore, we decided to use the "Black Watch" tartan check, which is a signature of ISETAN MEN'S .

Inaba: "This is the very first custom-made item we've worked on. It started with the idea that Nishiguchi's L-pocket design was in the mood, and Bernard Zins came up as a candidate for the custom order. Isetan has featured Black Watch patterns many times before, but I think this one turned out especially well."

IGARASHI TROUSERS Pants

IGARASHI TROUSERS, whose ready-made products are exclusively available at BEAMS F, offers ready-made flannel trousers incorporating specifications that are usually only available through bespoke orders.


Nishiguchi: "This time, we had the trousers from the James Bond suit tailored by Anthony Sinclair recreated as an homage to the original film. They feature two pleats and buttoned side adjusters. The longer fly is secured with a hook, and there's only one pocket on the right side—a detail we paid special attention to."

Inaba: " ISETAN MEN'S has always been very good at custom orders, including for trousers, and our customers enjoy choosing their preferred specifications and details. I'm sure that customers who are particular about their trousers will be pleased with this."

GTA Pants

GTA's "Giorgio," which sparked a jogger pants trend in men's dress wear, has been reimagined using rugby flannel from the Italian luxury fabric manufacturer Drago, with modified details throughout.

Inaba: "The iconic GTA pants were a huge hit at ISETAN MEN'S . I think this approach of updating a popular staple item from ISETAN MEN'S in collaboration with BEAMS is unique to this project."

Nishiguchi: "This season, we're carrying Giorgio, a brand that BEAMS F doesn't carry. By making small adjustments to the details, such as making the hem ribbing narrower and the waistband wider, I think we've created a completely different impression from before."


For this "MR_BEAMS meets ISETAN MEN'S" event, we will have a total of about 20 special order models, as well as order events for ALFONSO SIRICA and ALFREDO RIFUGIO. Details will be announced periodically on IMn (Isetan Men's Net).

During the event, the directors of BEAMS F and Brilla per il gusto will be at the ISETAN MEN'S storefront to assist customers (Saturday, October 9th, 1 PM - 8 PM). An Instagram Live session is also planned!


Related article ► 'MR_BEAMS meets ISETAN MEN'S'



→Information is also updated regularly on ISETAN MEN'S and Men's Tailored Clothing's Instagram accounts!