Founded by knitwear designer Kota Gushiken, the eponymous label approaches knitwear as a medium for storytelling, combining advanced Japanese knitting techniques with personal experiences, everyday observations, and collaborations with specialized craftspeople. A graduate of Central Saint Martins, Gushiken develops each collection around original knit structures, natural fibers, and artisanal production, creating garments that balance technical precision with a playful, human-centered perspective.
For A/W ’26, titled “Yes, Muy Bien,” the collection is inspired by the concept of mui (無為), embracing spontaneity and allowing unexpected encounters to guide the creative process rather than forcing predetermined outcomes. This philosophy is reflected through a series of original knit developments, including mohair pullovers and vests that recreate the subtle color transitions of sunsets using 45 individually toned yarns. Elsewhere, naturally dyed knitwear created in collaboration with mud-dye artisans from Amami Oshima, cable knits utilizing an accidental bleaching and dyeing technique discovered by a dye house, and Fair Isle knitwear fused with mohair cable panels through needle-punch construction highlight the collection’s emphasis on experimentation and craftsmanship. Additional pieces reference autumn ginkgo trees, Egyptian stone textures translated into cable knitting, and naturally occurring tie-dye effects, demonstrating Kota Gushiken’s continued exploration of how traditional techniques and chance discoveries can be translated into contemporary knitwear.
