{"id":701,"date":"2026-08-05T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T03:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.miharayasuhiro.jp\/topics\/?p=701"},"modified":"2026-08-05T12:23:51","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T03:23:51","slug":"chris-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.miharayasuhiro.jp\/topics\/chris-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview with Chris Gibbs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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To celebrate UNION LA\u2019s 35th anniversary, a collaborative collection featuring in\u00b7stru(men-tal) & Maison MIHARA YASUHIRO and UNION will be released on August 7 (US) \/ August 8 (JP).<\/span><\/p>\n

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Brought together through a mutual acquaintance, this collection took about a year of development.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this interview with UNION owner Chris Gibbs, we delve into the stories behind its creation and the passion woven into each piece.<\/span><\/p>\n

From the background and origin of the collaboration to his perspective on Maison MIHARA YASUHIRO, and the shared cultural philosophy that unites both brands<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2014Chris’s own words reveal another layer to the story behind this collection.<\/span><\/p>\n

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-What is your impression of designer Mihara Yasuhiro?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

And what aspects of his craftsmanship and philosophy do you find most appealing?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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I love the way Mihara is always playing with proportions most of all. <\/span><\/p>\n

While he often uses an oversized fit, it\u2019s done in a masterful way where the \u201cdrape\u201d of the garment is still considered. <\/span><\/p>\n

But maybe to keep us on our toes, he will on occasion make things cropped and smaller. <\/span><\/p>\n

The play between the two, matched with the attention to detail of the garment as well as a superior wash technique, offers a truly unique POV on fashion.<\/span><\/p>\n

I have many Mihara pieces in my personal wardrobe, and when I visit Japan, his store is a must-see for me.<\/span><\/p>\n

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-How did you and Mihara first meet, and how have you built your relationship over time?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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We met in Paris a couple of years back through our mutual friend KB. <\/span><\/p>\n

Shortly thereafter, we began talks of this collaboration, and I have enjoyed the creative back and forth for the better part of the last year.<\/span><\/p>\n

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-What were your initial impressions when you first heard about this collaboration? <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

What elements did you feel were particularly appealing or had potential?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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As you now know, I am a huge fan of Yasuhiro-san, so when the opportunity presented itself, I was extremely happy.<\/span><\/p>\n

The entire collection is great; otherwise, we would not have made it.<\/span><\/p>\n

I hope that we can continue to collaborate more in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n

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-What drives UNION to enter collaborations beyond commercial motives, <\/span><\/strong>and what core values do you prioritize when choosing a partner?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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TBH, it’s actually rare that we do a collab for commercial motives.<\/span><\/p>\n

More often, it\u2019s about sharing ideas with other designers or brands that we admire.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s more about community building and doing something with a friend that we might not otherwise do on our own. <\/span><\/p>\n

Call it a friendly challenge to step out of our comfort zone – have some fun and make something in a new way.<\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n

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-Outside of this collaboration, are there any specific Maison MIHARA YASUHIRO pieces or past collections that you personally like?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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There is a knit cardigan I have from a couple of years ago that might be one of my all-time favorite cardigans. <\/span><\/p>\n

The fit, the drape, the wash – is all perfect for me. <\/span><\/p>\n

Outside of specific items, I also think their idea to make \u201cdry cleaning tags\u201d part of their brand iconography was genius!!!<\/span><\/p>\n

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-For the visual campaign for this collaboration, we shared ideas and direction; then the UNION team interpreted it to build the visuals.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

When you first received the initial concepts, what story and visuals did you envision?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Mihara and his team shared a desire to have a very LA look and feel for the campaign. <\/span><\/p>\n

As you can imagine, there are a lot of LA looks that can be very different. <\/span><\/p>\n

We shared a couple of ideas and finally landed on this shoot in and around Mc Arthur Park. <\/span><\/p>\n

Coincidentally, I live 10 blocks away from the Park and walk there every day.<\/span><\/p>\n

This might surprise some, who consider it a dangerous place. <\/span><\/p>\n

I am not suggesting that it isn’t, but all places have the capacity to be dangerous – it’s all about how you navigate. <\/span><\/p>\n

This is my neighborhood, so I\u2019d like to think I know how to navigate it well.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some of the best ideas to me are organic, and what could be more organic than shooting at a park in my hood?<\/span><\/p>\n

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-The final visuals capture an authentic atmosphere\u2014the Los Angeles cityscape, cars, and the everyday lives of the locals.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

How did you approach the choice of location, casting, and overall visual tone for the shoot?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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As for models, we used a couple guys from our team that we have used many times, same for the photographer. <\/span><\/p>\n

We just kept it in the Union family.<\/span><\/p>\n

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-UNION has long curated and introduced brands and designers through a unique lens.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

When introducing a new brand or product to the UNION community, what do you value most?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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That\u2019s a tough question to answer.<\/span><\/p>\n

But I guess the main thing we start with is freshness. <\/span><\/p>\n

Is the new brand fresh (something that our customer hasn\u2019t seen before). <\/span><\/p>\n

This would be where we start. <\/span><\/p>\n

Sometimes it\u2019s something they have seen, but maybe the new brand is doing it in an innovative way.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sometimes the brand is doing it at a really high level, but typically something is new.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n

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-In UNION\u2019s view, how do music, art, skateboarding, street culture, and fashion intersect and connect?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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We consider our store a lifestyle store first and foremost.<\/span><\/p>\n

We are just as interested in someone coming to our shop to have an interesting conversation or share a new artist or be put on to new music as we are in them discovering a new fashion piece. <\/span><\/p>\n

To us, fashion is communication. It\u2019s just a way of having or starting a conversation with someone that is nonverbal and more visual. <\/span><\/p>\n

So the arts and beyond really are an integral part of our store and our brand.<\/span><\/p>\n

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-On a personal level, what role do subcultures like skateboarding and surfing play in your life, and how have these influenced UNION\u2019s philosophy?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Well, I was a skater as a kid, and skateboarding really helped open my eyes to the visual arts through the lens of skateboard design. <\/span><\/p>\n

For better or for worse, most 12-year-olds don\u2019t want to go to a museum, so the first canvas you might see will typically be a record cover of your favorite band or your skateboard.<\/span><\/p>\n

I think that played a heavy role in my early childhood in understanding and appreciating visual art, which is the foundation of streetwear. <\/span><\/p>\n

In addition, in the 80\u2019s (I am an 80\u2019s baby), skateboard culture was counterculture – in it was rebellious, so it also helped shape my youthful angst.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lastly, as it often is with outsiders and countercultures\u2026we are often pushed to the fringes, and that is where we often find our \u201cA-ALIKES\u201d (act a likes or acolytes). <\/span><\/p>\n

This, for me, is where my community was formed.<\/span><\/p>\n

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-How has the city of Los Angeles and its local community influenced UNION\u2019s identity over the years?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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It’s everything.\u00a0 We are a direct reflection of our community, and we are LA. <\/span><\/p>\n

We wouldn’t be here without the love and support of this amazing city that has always embraced us and our crazy ideas,<\/span><\/p>\n

and in turn, we try and to be a mirror to LA and show the rest of the world what our city has to offer. <\/span><\/p>\n

There are many different opinions on where streetwear was born, but it came of age here in LA – no doubt about that!<\/span><\/p>\n

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-What music have you been listening to lately, both in your personal life and while working?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Were there any specific artists, tracks, or genres you kept on heavy rotation while working on this project?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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I am as plural as it gets in music.<\/span><\/p>\n

I am mixed – half white, half black – and both sides of my heritage are thirsty for music. <\/span><\/p>\n

I am all over the place: on any given day or time, I could be listening to oldies like \u201cThe Everly Brothers\u201d,<\/span><\/p>\n

Folk like \u201cSimon & Garfunkel\u201d or Shoegaze like \u201cThe Smiths\u201d or \u201cCocteau Twins\u201d\u2026 some might say that\u2019s my white side???<\/span><\/p>\n

I guess on my black side, I like Disco like \u201cGQ\u201d and House like \u201cPeven Everett\u201d as well as Rhythm and Blues like \u201cLalah Hathaway\u201d or her dad, \u201cDonny Hathaway\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lately, I have been listening to a lot of newer R&B. <\/span><\/p>\n

Three artists I am listening to a lot these days are:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cKelela\u201d, who just dropped a new album; \u201cLaya\u201d, who does a modern take on 90\u2019s R&B; and \u201cLeiah\u201d, who is just dope.<\/span><\/p>\n

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-While UNION maintains a strong digital presence, physical stores and real-world community remain central.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

What do you see as the role of a physical store for UNION today?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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A physical store is the social meeting place for the community to share ideas.<\/span><\/p>\n

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-Having been involved in fashion and street culture for so many years, how do you stay curious, motivated, and energized?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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I\u2019m not sure I know how to answer that other than saying I have always been curious, motivated, and energized.<\/span><\/p>\n

I think it\u2019s just part of my makeup – whether that is nature or nurture\u2026 I don\u2019t know.<\/span><\/p>\n

At some point, fashion became a vehicle through which I saw that I could possibly make a living by applying my energy to, and it stuck.<\/span><\/p>\n

I like to communicate, and fashion has become one of the main ways I do this, so I am always looking for new words (fashion) to add to my vocabulary. <\/span><\/p>\n

Admittedly, at some point along the way, I discovered Japan, and that has been my main language ever since.<\/span><\/p>\n

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-Finally, what do you hope UNION customers and Maison MIHARA YASUHIRO fans will take away or feel through this collaboration?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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I hope more than anything that Union customers will appreciate the friendship that Union and Mihara Yasuhiro have,<\/span><\/p>\n

and I also hope that maybe some Union customers who might not be familiar with Mihara Yasuhiro will be curious to learn more about this amazing brand!<\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n

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Chris Gibbs<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Having built a long career as a buyer at UNION NY, which opened in 1989, he now owns both UNION LA and UNION TOKYO.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2016, he was selected for the HYPEBEAST 100, recognizing the world’s most influential artists and creatives.<\/span><\/p>\n

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About | UNION<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Born out of the desire to have a place to showcase what the local community of kids were up to with music, art and fashion,<\/span><\/p>\n

as well as being a bridge to unique items from various parts of the world,<\/span><\/p>\n

Union first opened its doors in NYC back in 1989 on Spring Street in Soho.<\/span><\/p>\n

In short, it was the store that represented the fashion side of New York City\u2019s youth and counter culture.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Los Angeles shop followed soon after when Eddie Cruz (one ofthree original owners) decided to move west.<\/span><\/p>\n

Maintaining the same principles as the New York shop, Union LA embraced the creativity of fresh designers,<\/span><\/p>\n

within the city and continued the hunt for cool shit coming out of countries like Japan and the UK.<\/span><\/p>\n

Over 20 years later, Union continues to bring its customers acurated selection of up and coming designers,<\/span><\/p>\n

mixed with off-the-beaten-path high-end brands from all over the globe.<\/span><\/p>\n

Union\u2019s concept is simple (and we have stuck with it since day one):<\/span><\/p>\n

buy brands that we will wear ourselves and clothes that walk the line between fashion and function,<\/span><\/p>\n

avoiding the \u2018costumey\u2019 side of fashion by offering classics with a twist.<\/span><\/p>\n

The LA shop is now theonly remaining door and is currently owned and operated by Chris Gibbs,<\/span><\/p>\n

who worked at the original NYC shop as a young\u2019un.<\/span><\/p>\n

Come through and check for yourselves.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u3010Stores\u3011<\/span><\/p>\n

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Maison MIHARA YASUHIRO official online store<\/span><\/p>\n

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Maison MIHARA YASUHIRO JINGUMAE BUILDING<\/span><\/p>\n

Maison MIHARA YASUHIRO Osaka<\/span><\/p>\n

Maison MIHARA YASUHIRO Isetan Shinjuku Men\u2019s<\/span><\/p>\n

Maison (MY)Labo.<\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":836,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-701","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-maison_mihara_yasuhiro"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.miharayasuhiro.jp\/topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/701","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.miharayasuhiro.jp\/topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.miharayasuhiro.jp\/topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.miharayasuhiro.jp\/topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.miharayasuhiro.jp\/topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=701"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/en.miharayasuhiro.jp\/topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/701\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":834,"href":"https:\/\/en.miharayasuhiro.jp\/topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/701\/revisions\/834"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.miharayasuhiro.jp\/topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/836"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.miharayasuhiro.jp\/topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=701"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.miharayasuhiro.jp\/topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=701"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.miharayasuhiro.jp\/topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=701"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}