Takahiro Miyashita leaves TheSoloist after 15 years, teases next venture

Takahiro Miyashita is leaving the brand he founded. The acclaimed Japanese designer, known for his distinctive presence in Japan’s avant-garde fashion scene, announced his departure from TakahiromiyashitaTheSoloist—the label he launched in 2010—through a press release that surprised fans and industry insiders alike.

Miyashita described the brand’s original intent as “a solo brand that is both personal and artisanal,” built on the simple vision of crafting well-made clothing. “Each piece was like a musical note—pure in its simplicity, yet complex in its construction, shaped with the finest cuts and materials,” he said.

Now 50, the designer stated that after nearly 15 years, “the symphony has come to an end.” He added: “The company and I have decided to go our separate ways, each of us grateful to the other.” He did not confirm whether the label will continue without him.

His final collection for the brand—Autumn/Winter 2025-26, titled “The Black-and-White Realism”—was unveiled online in February. The collection will be delivered as planned to the brand’s retail partners.

“While this decision carries a sense of melancholy (it wouldn’t be TheSoloist without it), creative new beginnings are rare and special,” Miyashita said, suggesting he may already be working on a new venture. He closed his message with a signature touch of rock flair: “Rock and roll never dies… The music goes on, louder and louder. Just on a different stage. A new band, a new sound—join me…”

Born in Tokyo in 1973, Miyashita is self-taught and began reconstructing garments in his teenage years. Deeply influenced by Anglo-American rock music—from The Beatles to Nirvana, David Bowie to Nine Inch Nails—his designs often reflect a dark, monochromatic, and urban sensibility.

Before launching TheSoloist, he founded cult label Number (N)ine in 1996, first presenting in Paris in 2003. After ending the project in 2009, he returned with TheSoloist in 2010, evolving his experimental aesthetic toward a more functional direction.

The brand made its runway debut in Tokyo in 2017, followed by a high-profile showing at Pitti Uomo in January 2018. Since then, it has presented collections in both Tokyo and Paris.