Founded in 2019, Hikari no Yami has carved out a distinct space in contemporary fashion, merging philosophy with design. Its name, translating to “light in darkness, or darkness in light,” captures the brand’s core pursuit: the balance of contradictions. Through avant-garde tailoring and elevated streetwear, Hikari no Yami presents clothing as more than utility; it becomes a meditation on identity, imperfection, and the human condition.
The brand’s guiding mantra, Creation Without Limitation, defines its design ethos. Freed from convention, the atelier transforms dualities such as fragility and strength, form and void, into garments that function as both statement and reflection. At the heart of this vision lies Dark Kintsugi, an innovative approach to sustainability that reimagines upcycling as an art form. Pre-loved textiles and discarded garments are deconstructed and rebuilt into singular couture pieces, elevating imperfection into resilience and beauty.
Hikari no Yami also positions itself as a cultural bridge, weaving together influences from Tokyo and New York, past and present. Its practice shows that luxury and sustainability need not be at odds but can instead coexist as a new paradigm of fashion.
Behind the label is a diverse and dynamic team. Founder and Creative Director Jakarie Whitaker, a four-time Virgil Abloh Post-Modern Scholar, leads with a vision shaped by both philosophy and personal history. He is joined by Diana Almanza (VP of Operations and Senior Designer), who now directs the brand’s SHIRT line; Alicia Fabella (Art Director and CMO), who steers its identity and communications; and Mark Ngyuen (Graphic Designer). Together, they form a collective whose strength lies in plurality, embodying the brand’s ethos of diversity as creative force.
Hikari no Yami brings tangible form to philosophical ideals. The brand embraces the beauty in imperfection, exploring the interplay between light and darkness. – Jakarie Whitaker
Beyond the mainline, the brand has expanded into diffusion labels. YAMI adapts its avant-garde aesthetic into ready-to-wear, while SHIRT reinvents the workwear button-up as a site of experimentation in pleating, dyeing, and deconstruction. Both extend Hikari no Yami’s commitment to sustainability while broadening its accessibility.
What sets Hikari no Yami apart is not trend but philosophy. Each garment is conceived as a wearable inquiry, asking the wearer to consider the balance of shadow and light, imperfection and refinement. In an industry often defined by spectacle, Hikari no Yami proposes something different: a quiet but radical insistence that fashion can be both a form of art and a reflection of existence itself.
Photos: Courtesy of Hikari no Yami
www.hikarinoyami.com
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