For the Spring 2025Yosuke Aizawa, the visionary of White Mountaineeringpushes the boundaries of what it means to dress for an active, versatile lifestyle, blurring the lines between urban exploration and venturing beyond city limits.
Gone are the days of dressing simply. Aizawa’s vision centers on clothes that become traveling companions, both physical and metaphorical. He draws inspiration from personal experiences, like the two and a half hour drive from Tokyo to his mountain workshop, and designs clothes that adapt to the changing environment. This philosophy goes beyond practicality; it’s about imbuing clothing with meaning, fostering a deeper connection between the wearer and the garment.
Technology plays a crucial role in Aizawa’s design process. Cloud-based tools allow him to transition between his urban studio and his mountain studio. But above all, advances in materials and construction allow it to create innovative pieces – functional fabrics, advanced elasticity, 3D design – that improve the wearer’s experience.
However, amid this technological evolution, one fundamental principle remains unchanged: the pleasure of dressing for travel. Aizawa himself embodies this spirit, having spent 24 years in the fashion industry, witnessing a complete transformation in design methods. Yet the fundamental pleasure of clothing, the ability to express oneself through clothing, endures.
This season’s collection, aptly titled “Unplugged”, reflects Aizawa’s desire to encourage a conscious disconnection from the omnipresent digital world. The pieces themselves evoke a sense of adventure, drawing inspiration from mountains, meadows and unexplored landscapes. It is a continuation of Aizawa’s philosophy established 19 years ago – “The area in which we wear clothes is entirely external”. His own experiences, shaped by his life shared between Tokyo and Nagano, influence the aesthetics of the collection.
“Unplugged” offers a versatile line of outdoor layering. Aizawa incorporates personal touches, such as a lion printed in an art book from his student days, reimagined on windbreakers and shirts. A nod to the brand’s name and Aizawa’s fascination with falling snow, white silhouettes and textured knits evoke the landscape surrounding his mountain retreat and neighboring boutique hotel, “Not a Hotel”.
The influence of technology is not limited to design tools. Aizawa uses advanced fabrics to create functional pieces perfect for exploring. A black technical windbreaker features snap flaps and hidden pockets for secure storage, ideal for navigating mountain roads on a motorcycle. Wrinkle-resistant pants combine technical nylon with low-profile stretch panels for greater freedom of movement. A seemingly tie-dyed coat turns out to be a jacquard rendering of traditional Japanese calligraphy paper – a subtle nod to Aizawa’s heritage.
White Mountaineering’s robust footwear program, which includes collaborations with Reebok, Rig Footwear and Umbro, complements the apparel collection. Although these pieces are aimed at a dedicated base, the brand pushes the boundaries by showcasing its vision on a global platform like Paris Fashion Week.
© Photos : White Mountaineering
