Fall 2025 Show Marks the End of His Tenure as Head Designer
Junichi Abe, founder and head designer of kolor, announced his retirement at the brand’s Fall 2025 show, marking the end of his 20-year leadership. The show, held at Space Niemeyer, concluded with Abe walking the runway and taking a bow.
Guests received a handwritten letter from Abe upon entering the venue, which read: “This will be a special moment for me, because it will be my last show as Kolor head designer. Even after this season, I’ll stay to support Kolor from the inside. Thank you for all these years, and I hope we will have your continued support for kolor.” Guests were also gifted a T-shirt bearing the words, “Thank you and farewell.”
A representative for kolor confirmed that Abe will remain with the brand in an advisory capacity, while a successor will be announced soon.
Abe founded kolor in 2004, building the brand around classic sportswear reimagined with intricate textures, layering, and a minimalist aesthetic. His architectural approach to tailoring and craft became a signature of Kolor’s men’s and women’s collections. Abe’s career included roles as a patternmaker for Yohji Yamamoto, Comme des Garçons, and Junya Watanabe before launching the label PPCM in 1994 and kolor a decade later.
Abe’s tenure also included a notable collaboration with Adidas, launched in 2015. In recent seasons, his designs reflected themes of nostalgia, inspired by his personal rediscovery of skiing and the outdoors.
Abe is married to Chitose Abe, designer of Sacai, and studied at Tokyo’s Bunka Fashion College. His departure marks the end of an era for kolor, while the brand prepares to usher in a new chapter under upcoming leadership.