According to WWD, Yohji Yamamoto is teaming up with Sanrio, the parent company of the fabled Hello Kitty empire, to launch a whole new brand called Kitty's. There are already two Japan stores in the works and while Yamamoto and team will handle the actual product development and design, Sanrio will deal with the storefronts. The first store actually opens tomorrow (which is technically today in Japan since it's already the 25th over there, right?) in Tokyo's Shinjuku district and the other is set to open on April 2 at a new shopping center in Osaka.
Just think about Yohji putting his unique spin on Hello Kitty and My Melody characters. I just imagine him in his studio having, like, a super good time designing clothing with these little kittens on them and giggling to himself because he is such a lighthearted and sincere guy. Then again, how Yohji's goth peasant wizard drape will translate to bubbly, anthropomorphic felines is beyond me. But, then again, I'm not a legendary designer. Either way, gear will include polos, tees, sweatshirts and jackets complete with kitty imagery and, in the near future, will also feature pieces like backpacks, hats and iPhone cases because of course. Can you imagine this blowing up so hard that Yohji just ends up quitting Y-3 and everyone who reads Four Pins kills themselves via ritualistic group suicide?
