‘Master of the Shadows’ Offers a Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Brand Y-3

Known and admired in the fashion world for his avant-garde approach and his pieces that offer unrivalled comfort, Yohji Yamamoto is indisputably one of fashion’s big names. Since 2001, he and Adidas have been collaborating under the name Y-3, with the Y standing for Yohji, the 3 symbolising the Adidas stripes, and the hyphen indicating the links between the two. Together, they wish to rethink the notion of clothing by bringing to it a new philosophy. The short film Master of the Shadows follows the Japanese designer as he prepares for a Y-3 runway show.

A brand at the vanguard of materials

Y-3 is a streetwear brand that combines nostalgia and futuristic cuts, as Yohji Yamamoto explains: ‘My wish was to make sportswear chic and elegant.’ And he seems to have succeeded, because Y-3 offers high-tech and innovative pieces made from unusual materials such as neoprene. Y-3 was also the first brand to create a whole collection for space travel.

Shot in black and white, Master Of The Shadows follows the designer in his intimate life and reveals rare images from behind the scenes at Y-3. The title also echoes the recurring use of black in the stylist’s personal collections.

Master of the Shadows (2016), a short film offering a behind-the-scenes look at the brand Y-3, directed by Phil Sansom and available to watch on Adidas Y-3’s YouTube channel.