Stylist Naoki Ikeda is a good friend of designer Junya Kawakami. Among the many items he purchased this season, he purchased a special 3RD TYPE knit jacket made with indigo yarn. He says it's "a truly Seven by Seven-esque item." We spoke to him about the meaning behind this.
"Until it's explained,
I didn't realise it was knitted
"When I saw this piece at the 2025 Autumn/Winter exhibition, I was embarrassed to admit that I didn't realise it was knitwear until someone explained it to me. I just thought it was another unusual denim piece (laughs). But when I heard it was knitwear and tried it on, I was shocked at how strange it felt. It feels like knitwear, but looks like denim. I think it's a really interesting item."
"This is purely my personal opinion, but I felt that this item evoked the appeal of designer denim from the 80s and 90s. The silhouette and details are slightly oversized, and the unique wash adds to the design."
"I think SEVEN BY SEVEN once had a series where they reconstructed snowboard wear using leather, and I felt a similar sense of playfulness in this collection. It's a playful approach that comes from knowing the real deal. It's not so much casual as it is off-kilter, it's almost hard to tell. I think it's an item that can only be found at SEVEN BY SEVEN."
"Even things that are difficult to achieve can be achieved"
"The one I actually purchased was unwashed black. It has a firm texture at first, but as you wear it, it starts to lose its weight and give off a drape. It's really comfortable to wear. It's a third-type design, but it feels more like a cardigan than a denim jacket. It's an outer layer with the comfort of a knit. It's a style that seems familiar but is actually quite rare."
"This time I coordinated an oversized vintage sweatshirt with track pants. I thought about adding an accent color, but I felt that a clean monochrome look would suit me best. It's not a particularly creative look, but it probably wouldn't work with an ordinary denim jacket. That's what makes this jacket so interesting."
"A strange feeling that's too maniacal"
"The pants have a clean silhouette, which goes well with both sneakers and leather shoes. I coordinated these in monochrome as well. I layered a striped SEVEN BY SEVEN T-shirt underneath a vintage T-shirt (presumably with Jack Kerouac on it). This balances the look. Even if you look at these pants knowing they're knitwear, it doesn't look like it, right? I like that slight sense of incongruity."
"If it wasn't knit, this finish wouldn't be possible."
"With washed indigo pants, I paired a wool corduroy Harrington jacket from SEVEN BY SEVEN from a few seasons ago. I layered a German military camouflage parka underneath. The contrast of the knit material and the faded denim look are effective. The red Converse also look great."
"It makes a difference"
"I paired a washed knit jacket with a large silhouette T-shirt and knit vest underneath. As I mentioned at the beginning, this styling was created with the feeling of playing with designer denim by wearing vintage clothing. It's traditional, but not obviously orthodox. It's not easy to achieve this kind of balance, but that's why it's so stylish when you can pull it off. I think it's an item that can really make an outfit stand out."
"I feel like the clothes that Kawakami makes involve a lot of questioning of the way we see things. Within the style of mainly American clothing, he presents items that he is passionate about or finds interesting in a way that is different from theory. How to enjoy this twist is what's interesting, and I think that is the appeal of the brand itself."
