by: Andres Rodriguez | editorial director
In a landscape where collaborations have become frequent in contemporary fashion, few projects manage to transcend mere aesthetics to deliver a narrative that is both socially resonant and artistically profound. Distortion3, the ongoing partnership between NUDE: Masahiko Maruyama, PR-y, and Atelier Yamanami, stands as a testament to fashion’s potential to engage with the broader spectrum of human creativity, particularly that which exists beyond conventional norms.
Masahiko Maruyama, the founder and creative force behind Nude: Masahiko Maruyama, has long been synonymous with a stripped-down approach to design. Since establishing his eponymous brand in 1996, Maruyama has pursued an ethos that embraces minimalism, unisex silhouettes, and an aesthetic purity that echoes the very name of his label. Over the years, his work has expanded from Tokyo to Paris and beyond, finding an international audience that values both the restraint and the quiet rebellion embedded in his designs.
PR-y, a project launched in 2011, operates at the intersection of art, design, and social advocacy. A collective of designers and photographers, PR-y champions the work of artists with intellectual disabilities and mental illness, seeking to reframe perceptions of their creative output. Through photography, video, fashion, and installation, PR-y has carved out a space where unconventional expression is not only validated but celebrated.
Atelier Yamanami, founded in 1986 in Shiga Prefecture, is a creative sanctuary where artists with intellectual, mental, and physical disabilities engage in unfiltered artistic exploration. The facility, home to around 90 creators, is a hub of raw, boundary-pushing art, producing everything from paintings to embroidery, sculptures to installations. Their work has increasingly drawn international recognition, resonating with a global audience that appreciates the unmediated intensity of their vision.
Distortion3 first emerged in 2015 as a continuation of the collaborative trajectory Maruyama had initiated with PR-y two years prior. The name itself suggests a deliberate deviation from the expected, an intentional warping of perception and convention. Each iteration of Distortion3 presents a collection that embodies this ethos, merging Nude’s rigorous minimalism with the emotive, untamed expressions of Atelier Yamanami’s artists. The garments serve as a canvas where raw artistic energy collides with precision tailoring, yielding pieces that challenge distinctions between fashion and fine art.
The most recent Distortion3 collection is an extension of this vision, amplifying the dialogue between structure and spontaneity. The pieces reflect the core philosophy of Nude: Masahiko Maruyama, favoring reduction over excess, while incorporating the uninhibited graphic intensity and textural complexity characteristic of Atelier Yamanami’s works. The result is a collection that is at once introspective and outwardly defiant, existing in the liminal space between control and chaos.
Beyond the runway, the impact of Distortion3 extends into the art world, with past collections and associated exhibitions garnering attention far beyond the confines of fashion. Documentary films, international showcases, and interdisciplinary collaborations have further solidified the project’s cultural significance, positioning it as a rare example of a fashion initiative that is as intellectually compelling as it is visually striking.
At a time when discussions around inclusivity in fashion often feel superficial, Distortion3 presents a model that is not merely about representation but about active participation. The collaboration dismantles hierarchies of artistic value, affirming that the work of artists with disabilities is not a tokenized element but an integral force in shaping the aesthetic and conceptual identity of the collection.
In an industry that often veers towards excess, Nude: Masahiko Maruyama, PR-y, and Atelier Yamanami have forged a path that is both restrained and radical. Distortion3 does not merely distort expectations, it reshapes the very boundaries of what fashion can be.
ABOUT NUDE: Masahiko Maruyama
Nude: Masahiko Maruyama has become famous for its seemingly simple design and distinctive silhouette. The brand name comes from the concept of ripping off all decoration, so that simplicity of design is clear. Ornamentation is kept at a minimum, and the focus is on relaxed tailoring and superior fabrications.
www.nudemm.com
@nudemasahikomaruyama
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE COLLECTION
