Takashi Murakami and Yuta Hosokawa’s Pursuit of “Harmony Between Art and Fashion” With mononoke・made

 Renowned global artist Takashi Murakami and Yuta Hosokawa, the designer behind READYMADE and ©SAINT Mxxxxxx, are launching a new project: mononoke・made. Created by the duo, the apparel collection launches this spring and is set to drop at authorized retailers and Tonari no Zingaro this March.Their relationship began in 2018 when Hosokawa incorporated Murakami’s artwork into his clothing designs. Since then, they have maintained an ongoing dialogue built on mutual respect. In 2021, Murakami invited Hosokawa to hold his first solo exhibition, “-YES-,” at the Kaikai Kiki Gallery, which Murakami oversees. From this long-standing trust, a new project merging fashion and art — mononoke・made— was born.This project is not a standard collaboration; rather, it is the culmination of years of solid trust and deep creative dialogue between the two. Furthermore, mononoke・made marks Kaikai Kiki’s first original brand, while also serving as the ultimate expression of Hosokawa’s craftsmanship, philosophy, and accumulated experience.This commemorative first collection features a diverse lineup centered around apparel like T-shirts and hoodies, alongside accessories such as belts and wallet chains. Notably, it incorporates numerous Murakami artworks that have never before been used on apparel, going far beyond his iconic “Flowers” and “DOB” motifs. Hosokawa meticulously handled every detail of these precious artworks, from material selection and structure to sewing and finishing, repeatedly prototyping to elevate them into three-dimensional products. The result is a collection that marries the value of fine art with the polished perfection of everyday wear.The collection’s visuals were shot by Herbie Yamaguchi, a renowned photographer famous for capturing iconic musicians from the punk and new wave eras, as well as prominent artists and actors. The shoot, arranged at Hosokawa’s strong request, took place at the Kaikai Kiki Miyoshi Studio. The resulting images offer a unique finish that perfectly merges the concept of mononoke・made with Yamaguchi’s distinct aesthetic sensibility.Ahead of the official launch, Hypebeast sat down with the two masterminds and Herbie Yamaguchi to discuss the project’s inception, the production process, and the inspiration behind the collection.Hypebeast: First, tell us how you came to launch mononoke・made.Takashi Murakami (M): Mr. Hosokawa attended the opening of the 2024 exhibition “Takashi Murakami: Mononoke Kyoto” at the Kyoto City Kyocera Museum of Art. While we were chatting at the venue, I said, “Let’s do it,” and he replied, “Yes, let’s,” and it felt like it naturally started from there.Yuta Hosokawa (H): Two years ago, it was Mr. Murakami who first suggested, “How about making some clothes together?” It’s more like a natural progression rather than a clear “it started on this day.”Hypebeast: mononoke・made is the first original brand of Kaikai Kiki. Why did Mr. Murakami, who has been involved with the fashion worl