Taking place on the last Sunday of Paris Men's Fashion Week at 10:00 AM,
the early start didn't stop us. As one of our favorite brands featuring
our favorite model Maggie Joy Maurer, Ssstein was an absolute must-see.
Designer Kiichiro Asakawa delivered a collection filled with a strong
sense of calm, quiet confidence. Instead of using bright colors, (except
the red coat and jacket) or loud gimmicks, Asakawa made beautiful clothes
inspired by peaceful everyday moments.
The coats were the true stars of the show. They were big, comfortable, and
warm, but still looked sharp and neat. Some jackets had two collars, a
soft suede collar on the inside and a thick coat collar on the outside.
Long wool coats gave every look a simple, cool feel. The materials felt
amazing to look at and wear. Soft leather, heavy wool, crisp cotton, and
warm suede were mixed together in simple ways. The colors were dark and
warm, using a lot of dark grey, brown, soft black, and cream and only
popping color red. Everything was designed loose and easy to move in. The
trousers were wide, the shoulders were soft and rounded, and the sleeves
were a little long. The clothes floated nicely as the models walked,
making everything look relaxed rather than stiff.
The way the outfits were put together was incredible. We loved how the
jumpers fit tight around the waist and neck, creating a refined contrast
against the loose outerwear. The layering was super cool too, especially
the tank tops mixed with the long skirt. Another detail we couldn't get
enough of was the huge bag carried with an extra blazer/coat casually
slung over them. Another standout look was the oversized grey wool coat
paired with long grey leather gloves, which added a sharp, refined touch
to the entire outfit.
Built around emotional moments drawn from daily life, the collection felt
like a quiet haven in the middle of a noisy and loud Paris Fashion Week.
The designer shared: "It might be the imagined emotions of people that I observe, not only my
own feelings. Or the pleasure of discovering Jamie Hawkesworth's
landscape photographs, and rediscovering banal views of Tokyo. A simple
joy and a warm feeling laced with nostalgia bring me great
peace of mind". Ssstein reminded us that simple, well-made clothes are often the most
impactful, delivering a relaxed, elegant, and deeply authentic collection.
About the brand:
As an alumni of Tokyo Gakugei University, Kiichiro Asakawa is a
self-taught designer. His first job in the fashion industry was sales
assistant at Naichichi, the multi-brand store in Tokyo. During his six
years spent there, he was so curious about garment’s construction that
he often took vintage pieces apart from the store. The closure of
Naichichi in 2016 turned to be the beginning of a new chapter for
Asakawa; his own store Carol was born. Besides edgy designer clothes
at Carol, he offered pairs of vintage Levi’s 501 jeans that could be
specially adapted to each customer's unique morphology. This project’s
success led him to launch Ssstein in 2016, with just three trouser
designs. Two seasons later, he developed the brand into a full
collection, adding tops and coats. The brand's
first runway show took place during Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo for the
'23/24 'Fall/Winter season.
Ssstein was honoured with the Fashion Prize of Tokyo in 2025 and came
to Paris for its first runway. This Fall/Winter '26 collection is the
brand's third runway show in paris offering both men's and
women's looks.
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