Earlier this year, ISSEY MIYAKE announced the launch of new menswear line IM MEN, and now, the first standalone boutique has opened its doors in Tokyo‘s upscale shopping district of Aoyama. The retail space, previously occupied by the house’s previous and now defunct ISSEY MIYAKE Men collection, occupies a ground floor unit of a 1980s building, and sees a revamped setting design which has left the original design of acclaimed Japanese architect Shiro Kuramata (1934-1991) largely intact. A white ceiling, walls and large terrazzo tiles in a matching hue form the subdued backdrop for a minimum of furnishings and fixtures. On one side, a steel cable strung along the wall, and combined with a moveable clothing rack and an elongated window display unit, it’s used to present pieces of the IM MEN line. At the far end of the space, a sits a small counter with two metal stools. So, while IM MEN may be an entirely new line, its origins are not. Making use of all the nifty research on recycled materials and geometric garment constructions for the fashion house’s 132 5. ISSEY MIYAKE women’s line, IM MEN presents modern men’s garments marked by functionality and style. At the opening, the store stocks pieces from the Flat Man series, comprising outerwear and pants, all made from a new fabric containing lightweight and wrinkle-resistant vegetable-derived polyester which was manufactured in a environmentally friendly way, in addition to pieces from the Air Men, also a series of wrinkle-resistant and lightweight trousers and shirts which can be folded compactly and are ideal for long-term travel.