Number (N)ine closing

[Fuuma]

Quote:
"Today we received a letter (an actual letter, so you know it's serious) from Number (N)ine. It started with this quote: "When you're finished changing, you're finished." You guessed it: the Tokyo-based, Paris-showing men's label launched 12 years ago by Takahiro Miya****a is closing. The fall "˜09 collection"”portentously called A Closed Feeling"”was the last. The letter went on to say "Over the last decade, Number (N)ine evolved, always forging ahead with a unique and potent vision, to emerge as one of the leading brands of Japan." We agree with the sentiment. Number (N)ine will be (m)issed."
http://www.hintmag.com/blog/2009/02/...mber-nine.html


Note: The information was directly confirmed by Sue, N(N) PR so it's not just a rumor.

 

[constant struggle]

sad, one of the labels in that realm that i enjoyed, yet never owned any pieces from

 

[XenoX101]

Their fairly unwearable but amazingly realized last season -> http://nymag.com/fashion/fashionshow...ay/numbernine/

 

[robin]

Who's next in the fashun dead pool?

 

[toothsomesound]

Very unfortunate, I imagine SZ is in collective mourning, but I understand why.

 

[jet]

Originally Posted by robin

Who's next in the fashun dead pool?

eg

 

[robin]

Originally Posted by jet

^eg

 

[jet]

 

[rach2jlc]

I continued to be unimpressed with collections as they went on... their focus and aesthetic were very narrow and often hard to wear, very unique but at the same time sort of.... well... "What do I do with THIS?"

It's too bad when creative brands go under or quit, but at the same time, I can't say that this was one that really kept me waiting on the edge of my seat. Even when I don't wear the stuff (like Yohji or Junya), I always look forward to seeing the directions they take it. N (n) just seemed to me after a while to become, "huh?"

If a garment is unwearable or odd, there at least needs to be something stellar about it that makes me wish I lived in a certain way that such a garment might be possible. I found many of N(n)'s items just to be unattractive, albeit unique, and unwearable.

 

[AR_Six]

Originally Posted by rach2jlc

I continued to be unimpressed with collections as they went on... their focus and aesthetic were very narrow and often hard to wear, very unique but at the same time sort of.... well... "What do I do with THIS?" It's too bad when creative brands go under or quit, but at the same time, I can't say that this was one that really kept me waiting on the edge of my seat. Even when I don't wear the stuff (like Yohji or Junya), I always look forward to seeing the directions they take it. N (n) just seemed to me after a while to become, "huh?"
I am with you on the aesthetic being narrow and hard (more like impossible) to wear for almost everyone, but I completely part company on being unimpressed with the clothes. In fact I was always spectacularly impressed with n(n). It was just realy damned cool to look at, even though I couldn't, and wouldn't, wear most of it; the FW09 stuff being the epitome of that.

 

[jet]

Honestly I'm glad, one less japanese label to worry about. Now if only attachment, viridi anne and others that are equally pointless would follow suit.

 

[Fuuma]

Originally Posted by jet

Honestly I'm glad, one less japanese label to worry about. Now if only attachment, viridi anne and others that are equally pointless would follow suit.

I can't disagree more. BTW Branquinho isn't doing too well right now. I also hard rumors about TB having problems.

 

[rach2jlc]

^Though I've enjoyed the huge explosion of menswear options over the past 7-8 years, I also must say that the market is way too saturated and flooded with lackluster offerings. I don't want to see anybody's hard work go down the tubes or go out of business (as, usually, if I don't like it, I just won't buy it), but overall I'm not going to be losing sleep as a lot of brands go under.

I think, in the long run, we as customers and consumers will be better off for it. We will be more careful with our money and the true talents who have the ability to make garments that actually work on humans will stay. We will also have to become more educated as consumers (I hope).

Of course, the counterargument that only the "big" players, with their garish novaplaid and "DG" logos everywhere, will remain... but I disagree. I think we've got too much now of everything and some of these designers are going to have to become smarter and leaner, from the top down and then onto the runways and showrooms.

Just my two cents, of course.

 

[toothsomesound]

^I wish D&G went under instead.
Though unfortunately that would be a heavy economic blow to the clothing industry...

Anyway N(N) was pretty inspiring to a lot of people...unlike some brands which continue to churn out average looking clothing at varying levels of quality.

 

[rach2jlc]

Originally Posted by AndrewRyanWallace

^I wish D&G went under instead. Though unfortunately that would be a heavy economic blow to the clothing industry... Anyway N(N) was pretty inspiring to a lot of people...unlike some brands which continue to churn out average looking clothing at varying levels of quality.
I agree with "inspiration," but as my dad used to have on his boat, "This boat runs on gas, not thanks." Fashion brands stay in business by selling clothes, not ideas. I think that the best designers are those who can, in tough times, translate their brilliance into wearable garments that keep them in business or that make their business continuation worthwhile. But, again, this is just my own personal feeling about clothes; I'm not at all disagreeing with your assessment. I've just never been one who has bought into the whole "clothes are art" vibe, which many do (and rightly so). So, again, I'm just speaking from my opinion... but I DO agree with you that some of the garish chav brands could go and get cheers, instead of tears.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Versace really scale back. Prada, too. And who buys things from people like Andrew Mackenzie and Bernhard Wilhelm? McQueen is one who, I think, has tempered his "flare" into more wearable garments that are still quite interesting. Helmut Lang used to do this, too, for the most part.