Sui Generis Authentication Library

Yohji Yamamoto Authentication Guide

History, Clothing Labels, Bags, Shoes & Accessories

This Sui Generis authentication guide is designed as a practical reference for evaluating pre-owned Yohji Yamamoto and related Yohji Yamamoto Inc. house lines. At our San Francisco store, we begin with provenance and the complete object: labels and codes are compared with materials, construction, hardware, product archives and the period the piece is supposed to come from.

Yohji Yamamoto established Y's in 1972 and presented the Yohji Yamamoto collection in Paris in 1981. The house architecture is much broader than a single neck label: current or historically relevant names include Yohji Yamamoto, Yohji Yamamoto POUR HOMME, Yohji Yamamoto collections, REGULATION Yohji Yamamoto, GOTHIC Yohji Yamamoto, discord Yohji Yamamoto, Yohji Yamamoto by RIEFE, power of the WHITE shirt, L'odeur Yohji Yamamoto, Yohji Yamamoto MAISON, Y's and its sub-lines, LIMI feu, Ground Y, S'YTE, WILDSIDE and historical labels such as +NOIR, B Yohji Yamamoto and BLACK Scandal. Exact line identification is the foundation of authentication.

Y-3 is an adidas-owned design partnership with Yohji Yamamoto rather than a Yohji Yamamoto-owned sub-label. Authenticate Y-3 through adidas/Y-3 product, label and code conventions, while Yohji Yamamoto-owned lines such as Y's, Ground Y, S'YTE and discord should be evaluated against their own line-specific references.

UNDER Y's launched on August 14, 2026 as a Y's base-layer collection. Its nine close-to-body styles use highly stretchable fabric with UV protection rated UPF 50+, and the collection has dedicated packaging. Treat UNDER Y's as a Y's line: its labels and packaging should be evaluated against documented UNDER Y's examples rather than mainline Yohji Yamamoto or generic performance-wear conventions.

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01

The House

A Brief History of Yohji Yamamoto

Founded1972 (Y's); Yohji Yamamoto Paris debut 1981
FounderYohji Yamamoto
OriginTokyo, Japan

Yohji Yamamoto established Y's in 1972 and presented the Yohji Yamamoto collection in Paris in 1981. Yohji Yamamoto POUR HOMME followed as the house's principal menswear collection, and the wider Yohji Yamamoto Inc. structure now contains multiple sibling brands, category lines and historical labels. Because these lines use distinct identities and conventions, exact label identification should come before comparing construction, product codes or era details.

Use 1972 for Y's/company roots and 1981 for the Yohji Yamamoto Paris collection milestone. Date pieces through exact line wording, runway/product archives, care tags and manufacturing context; black oversized tailoring alone is not enough to assign a season.

Important boundaries: Y-3/Y-3 KURO belong to the adidas/Yohji design partnership and sit outside Yohji Yamamoto's owned labels; Y's for living is presented by THE SHOP as a Partner Brand rather than part of the Yohji Yamamoto-owned label family; OTHERS, Vintage and Soldes are retail/archive classifications rather than labels. Named series such as Y's BORN PRODUCT and COSTUME D'HOMME should not automatically be treated as independent labels without label-level evidence.

In 2026, Y's expanded its line architecture with UNDER Y's, a dedicated base-layer collection; date and identify these pieces through their exact UNDER Y's labeling, product references, materials and packaging context.

Y's SUPER POSITION should be classified as a retail/concept identity rather than another diffusion label. Its 2026 Okayama first-anniversary exclusive uses hand-drawn-style painted decoration with intentional piece-to-piece nuance. Y-3 KURO, meanwhile, was reconfirmed in 2026 as a continuing core branch of the adidas/Yohji Y-3 partnership rather than a one-season capsule.

01A

Deep Research

Yohji Yamamoto Authentication by Era & Collection

Yohji Yamamoto identifier research is organized by what the code is actually doing rather than by a generic 'serial number' idea. The guide separates product/style references, care-tag and season clues, serial/production context, and modern digital credentials. Read the complete care/info label: modern clothing often carries useful model, material/color, production or season information, but the meaning is line- and era-specific. Only documented formats are decoded automatically; everything else stays context-only until corroborated.

03

Manufacturing Context

Modern Yohji Yamamoto house-family products use line-specific product/style references. Y-3 sits outside that owned family as an adidas-owned design partnership with Yohji Yamamoto and follows adidas/Y-3 product-code conventions. Keep those systems separate and match the exact line, model, color and season before interpreting any number.

Before decoding anything, identify what kind of identifier it is: RN/business ID, style/article number, size code, supplier/production reference, serial, date mark, season code, inventory barcode, RFID/NFC or digital passport. Different identifier types answer different questions and are not interchangeable.

Read the Yohji Yamamoto care label literally before trying to date it. Record composition, country of origin, manufacturer/company/RN where present, size, care symbols, languages and every style/production reference. Check whether those facts are plausible for the garment you are holding.

Care tags are frequently counterfeited because they look technical. Misaligned printing, inconsistent fonts, impossible fiber data, code formats from another era or labels whose wear does not match the garment are useful red flags. Do not cut away a questionable tag before photographing it; the contradictions may be the most valuable evidence.

04

Sui Generis Workflow

  1. Photograph the complete object and every brand, care, composition, size and product-information label.
  2. Transcribe the visible reference exactly, preserving letters, leading zeroes and punctuation.
  3. Classify the identifier: style/article, season/date clue, serial/batch, RN/business ID, QR/NFC/RFID or digital passport.
  4. Use the Identifier Reference Tool and the Codes & Identifiers section to interpret only documented formats.
  5. Match the exact model/category/material/color and, when claimed, the exact runway or collection record.
  6. Resolve contradictions against construction, materials, hardware, typography, country/origin information and provenance before reaching an authentication conclusion.

01B

House Structure

Yohji Yamamoto Brand Family & Lines

Authentication-first map of Yohji Yamamoto Inc. house brands, sub-lines, category lines and historical labels. Identify the exact line before applying label, product-code, construction or dating rules. This family record describes authentication relationships; it is not a substitute for legal-entity or trademark ownership research.

Parent house / guide scope Yohji Yamamoto
Sub-label Yohji Yamamoto POUR HOMME
Category line Yohji Yamamoto collections
Sub-label REGULATION Yohji Yamamoto
Sub-label GOTHIC Yohji Yamamoto
Category line discord Yohji Yamamoto Parent: YOHJI YAMAMOTO Inc.
Category line Yohji Yamamoto by RIEFE
Sub-label power of the WHITE shirt
Category line L'odeur Yohji Yamamoto
Category line Yohji Yamamoto MAISON
Mainline Y's Parent: YOHJI YAMAMOTO Inc.
Sub-label Y's.... Parent: Y's
Sub-label UNDER Y's Parent: Y's
Sub-label Y's for men Parent: Y's
Sub-label Y's BANG ON! Parent: Y's
Category line Y's EYEWEAR Parent: Y's
Category line RISMAT by Y's Parent: Y's
Sub-label LIMI feu Parent: YOHJI YAMAMOTO Inc.
Sub-label Ground Y Parent: YOHJI YAMAMOTO Inc.
Sub-label S'YTE Parent: YOHJI YAMAMOTO Inc.
Sub-label WILDSIDE YOHJI YAMAMOTO Parent: YOHJI YAMAMOTO Inc.
Sub-label Yohji Yamamoto +NOIR
Sub-label B Yohji Yamamoto
Sub-label BLACK Scandal Yohji Yamamoto
Sub-label Y's PINK Parent: Y's
Hierarchy

YOHJI YAMAMOTO Inc. is the parent-house node. Yohji Yamamoto and Y's are foundational/mainline house brands; POUR HOMME and the Y's sub-lines sit beneath those identities for authentication. LIMI feu, Ground Y, S'YTE and WILDSIDE are modeled as sibling house brands/sub-labels under the parent company; discord is modeled as an accessories-focused category line. Historical lines remain in the family so legitimate vintage labels are not rejected because they are absent from the current menu.

Diffusion / sub-label note

Do not use “diffusion” as a catch-all. Y-3 and Y-3 KURO are excluded from the Yohji-owned family because Y-3 is an adidas-owned design partnership with Yohji Yamamoto; authenticate them through adidas/Y-3 conventions; see designer_collaboration.yohji-yamamoto-y3. THE SHOP lists Y's for living as a Partner Brand, so it is also excluded from the internal family. OTHERS, Vintage and Soldes are merchandising/archive buckets, not labels. Y's BORN PRODUCT and COSTUME D'HOMME are treated as named product/program designations unless stronger label-level evidence supports line status.

Parent House Active

YOHJI YAMAMOTO Inc.

Corporate/manufacturer identity; all categories

Parent company / manufacturer identity; not itself a consumer collection.

Authentication context

Label / logo: Corporate/company wording may appear on care labels, manufacturer information and documentation.

Identifiers: YOHJI YAMAMOTO Inc. company/manufacturer wording; exact legal/manufacturer context.

Collection relationship: Parent house; not a runway collection.

Authentication note

Do not mistake the corporate/manufacturer name for the consumer line. Use it as supporting label context, then identify the actual brand/line from the garment or object.

Official reference
Mainline Active 1981–present

Yohji Yamamoto

Parent: YOHJI YAMAMOTO Inc.

Women; ready-to-wear; accessories; selected lifestyle categories

Namesake Yohji Yamamoto collection.

Authentication context

Label / logo: Yohji Yamamoto signature/script and era-specific namesake labels; compare like-for-like by period.

Identifiers: Exact Yohji Yamamoto name; line-specific product reference; care/manufacturer label; runway/archive match.

Collection relationship: Paris namesake collection milestone 1981; seasonal collection archive.

Authentication note

Do not use the namesake label as a template for POUR HOMME, Y's or other sibling lines. Exact era and category control the expected label construction.

Official reference
Sub-label Active 1984–present

Yohji Yamamoto POUR HOMME

Parent: Yohji Yamamoto

Men; ready-to-wear; footwear; accessories

Principal Yohji Yamamoto menswear collection.

Authentication context

Label / logo: Exact POUR HOMME wording is authentication-critical; label typography and placement vary by era.

Identifiers: Yohji Yamamoto POUR HOMME label wording; product/style reference; care tag; season/runway evidence.

Collection relationship: Presented in Paris since 1984 according to the official collection page.

Authentication note

POUR HOMME is not interchangeable with women's namesake labels and should not be described as a generic diffusion line.

Official reference
Category line Active

Yohji Yamamoto collections

Parent: Yohji Yamamoto

Women; ready-to-wear

Current official collection/retail category used by Yohji Yamamoto and THE SHOP.

Authentication context

Label / logo: Do not assume every product literally carries “Yohji Yamamoto collections” as a neck label; verify the physical wording on the object.

Identifiers: Official category assignment plus exact physical label and product code.

Collection relationship: Separate current archive category on the corporate collection site.

Authentication note

Useful as a catalog/retail classification, but the physical item's actual label wording controls authentication.

Official reference
Sub-label Active

REGULATION Yohji Yamamoto

Parent: Yohji Yamamoto

Ready-to-wear; line-dependent categories

Named Yohji Yamamoto collection line.

Authentication context

Label / logo: REGULATION wording must be compared to documented examples from the same era.

Identifiers: REGULATION Yohji Yamamoto wording; exact product reference; materials; care/manufacturer label.

Collection relationship: Official seasonal archive documents the line through 2026-27.

Authentication note

An authentic REGULATION label should not be rejected simply because it differs from Yohji Yamamoto mainline or POUR HOMME branding.

Official reference
Sub-label Active

GOTHIC Yohji Yamamoto

Parent: Yohji Yamamoto

Jewelry; accessories; apparel Eyewear

Gothic-motif specialty line. Gothic-motif specialty line. First eyewear launched in 2026.

Authentication context

Label / logo: GOTHIC wording and motif-driven branding; compare exact medium and product.

Identifiers: GOTHIC Yohji Yamamoto line wording; silver/accessory or apparel product reference; motif and construction. 2026 first-eyewear reference: Wellington-style acetate frame incorporating 925 silver.

Collection relationship: Specialty collection rather than a substitute for namesake runway identity.

Authentication note

Gothic motifs alone are not proof; exact line mark, material and product reference must agree.

GOTHIC is a POUR HOMME-related accessory line and legitimately includes eyewear from the 2026 launch onward. Match acetate construction, 925 silver detail and exact product reference.

Official reference
Category line Active 2014–present

discord Yohji Yamamoto

Parent: YOHJI YAMAMOTO Inc.

Bags; leather goods; accessories

Luxury accessories brand/line within the Yohji Yamamoto house.

Authentication context

Label / logo: discord Yohji Yamamoto wording and line-specific interior/metal branding.

Identifiers: discord line mark; exact bag/accessory model; hardware, lining, leather/textile and product reference. Unevenness family includes both tote and 2026 drawstring-shoulder constructions; asymmetric outline and changing drape are intentional.

Collection relationship: Presented in New York in 2014; operates as an accessories-focused house line.

Authentication note

Do not authenticate discord bags against Yohji Yamamoto garment-label conventions. Bag construction, hardware and the discord-specific product record are primary.

The 2026 Unevenness drawstring shoulder reconstructs the existing tote with a drawstring and shape-shifting silhouette; do not misclassify it as an altered tote.

Official reference
Category line Active 2021–present

Yohji Yamamoto by RIEFE

Parent: Yohji Yamamoto

Jewelry

Dedicated jewelry line.

Authentication context

Label / logo: Exact Yohji Yamamoto by RIEFE branding and jewelry-specific marks/packaging.

Identifiers: Line wording; jewelry model/reference; metal finish/casting; closures; documented packaging and marks.

Collection relationship: Specialty jewelry program, not a substitute for apparel runway labeling.

Authentication note

This line makes has_jewelry = TRUE for the Yohji guide. Verify exact design and material claims independently; a logo is not a precious-metal test.

Official reference
Sub-label Active 2022–present

power of the WHITE shirt

Parent: Yohji Yamamoto

Shirts; apparel

Dedicated Yohji Yamamoto white-shirt brand/program.

Authentication context

Label / logo: Exact lowercase/uppercase wording is part of the program identity; compare to documented products.

Identifiers: power of the WHITE shirt wording; shirt construction; fabric; product reference; care/manufacturer label.

Collection relationship: Specialty apparel brand/program, not the namesake seasonal runway label.

Authentication note

Do not dismiss the phrase as generic product copy when it appears in a documented line context.

Official reference
Category line Active

L'odeur Yohji Yamamoto

Parent: Yohji Yamamoto

Fragrance; body; home scent; lifestyle

Fragrance and scent/lifestyle collection.

Authentication context

Label / logo: Exact L'odeur Yohji Yamamoto product and packaging wording; category-specific packaging conventions.

Identifiers: Product name, volume/format, packaging, batch/manufacturer context and official product match.

Collection relationship: Lifestyle/fragrance category, not apparel runway labeling.

Authentication note

Do not use apparel neck-label rules on fragrance or body/home products. Verify the exact retail presentation and product format.

Official reference
Category line Active

Yohji Yamamoto MAISON

Parent: Yohji Yamamoto

Home; towels; blankets; mirrors; lifestyle

THE SHOP home/lifestyle line.

Authentication context

Label / logo: MAISON wording and product/packaging branding should be matched to the exact home item.

Identifiers: Yohji Yamamoto MAISON line assignment; product reference; material; maker/origin and packaging.

Collection relationship: Home/lifestyle line rather than seasonal apparel runway identity.

Authentication note

Do not authenticate MAISON objects with apparel-only label expectations. Verify the item category, maker/origin and product record.

Official reference
Mainline Active 1972–present

Y's

Parent: YOHJI YAMAMOTO Inc.

Women; unisex; ready-to-wear; bags; footwear; accessories

Foundational Y's brand and seasonal collections. Includes 2026 Y’s × New Era AW26–27 and Y’s SUPER POSITION OKAYAMA anniversary exclusives.

Authentication context

Label / logo: Y's wording/script and era-specific labels; do not compare to Yohji Yamamoto namesake neck labels.

Identifiers: Exact Y's line wording; product/style reference; care/manufacturer label; seasonal archive match. Y’s × New Era: 22 items, apparel sizing 01–05 and model-specific co-branding. Okayama exclusive: variable hand-drawn-style painted treatment.

Collection relationship: Foundational house brand established in 1972; current Y's seasonal archive.

Authentication note

Y's is not a generic low-tier diffusion label. Its sub-lines and collaborations have their own identifiers and should be separated before authentication.

Intentional piece-to-piece paint variation on the Okayama capsule is expected; authenticate Y’s × New Era by exact apparel, bag or headwear model.

Official reference
Sub-label Active

Y's....

Parent: Y's

Gender-neutral ready-to-wear

Current four-dot Y's line / gender-neutral program.

Authentication context

Label / logo: Preserve the exact four-dot wording `Y's....` when documenting labels and retail references.

Identifiers: Exact Y's.... wording; gender-neutral line assignment; product/style code and care label.

Collection relationship: Current Y's line; gender-neutral program documented in official archives before the present four-dot retail wording.

Authentication note

Do not normalize the four dots away in intake records. Exact physical label wording and era remain more important than current website typography.

Official reference
Sub-label Active 2026–present

UNDER Y's

Parent: Y's

Base layers; close-to-body apparel

Y's base-layer collection launched August 14, 2026.

Authentication context

Label / logo: Dedicated UNDER Y's labeling and packaging should be compared to documented launch examples.

Identifiers: UNDER Y's wording; product reference; highly stretchable fabric; UPF 50+ context; dedicated packaging.

Collection relationship: Y's specialty base-layer collection, not namesake Yohji mainline.

Authentication note

Do not reject authentic performance-oriented materials because they differ from classic Yohji tailoring. Authenticate against UNDER Y's-specific examples.

Official reference
Sub-label Active 1979–present

Y's for men

Parent: Y's

Men; ready-to-wear; accessories

Y's menswear line, historically launched in 1979 and officially relaunched for 2023-24 after a hiatus.

Authentication context

Label / logo: Exact Y's for men wording and era-specific label treatment; historical and relaunched examples must not be conflated.

Identifiers: Y's for men label; product code; care/manufacturer label; era/season evidence.

Collection relationship: Historical line with current collection activity after 2023 relaunch.

Authentication note

A Y's for men label does not automatically date a piece to 2023+. Distinguish historical production from the relaunched line through exact labels, product codes and archive evidence.

Official reference
Sub-label Historical 2019–2022

Y's BANG ON!

Parent: Y's

Unisex; ready-to-wear

Seasonless numbered Y's line documented through A/W 2022-23.

Authentication context

Label / logo: Y's name drawn for the line plus model-number concept; tags are a key authentication feature.

Identifiers: Numbered model naming; Y's line mark; hand-stamped model number on documented tags; exact product reference.

Collection relationship: Seasonless/unisex line with dedicated collection archive rather than standard runway chronology.

Authentication note

The line name derives from Japanese 'bangō' (number). Do not mistake legitimate numbered/hand-stamped tag treatment for an aftermarket alteration without comparing documented examples.

Official reference
Category line Active

Y's EYEWEAR

Parent: Y's

Eyewear

Y's eyewear collection/category.

Authentication context

Label / logo: Y's EYEWEAR product and temple/lens/packaging marks; model-specific treatment.

Identifiers: Eyewear model/reference (for example YP/YX-series official references), frame construction, temple marks and packaging.

Collection relationship: Eyewear category can appear within Y's seasonal looks and capsule archives.

Authentication note

Authenticate eyewear through exact frame model, dimensions, material and marks rather than apparel neck-label rules.

Official reference
Category line Active

RISMAT by Y's

Parent: Y's

Knitwear; ready-to-wear

Named Y's knitwear/product line appearing in official seasonal collections and current THE SHOP product copy.

Authentication context

Label / logo: RISMAT by Y's wording is product/line-specific; verify whether the literal wording appears on the physical label for the exact model.

Identifiers: RISMAT by Y's product naming; Y's product reference; knit/material construction and seasonal archive match.

Collection relationship: Appears inside Y's seasonal collections rather than as a separate top-level corporate brand.

Authentication note

Use RISMAT as a Y's sub-line/product designation, not a substitute for checking the actual sewn label. Current product copy confirms continued use of the name.

Official reference
Sub-label Active 2002–present

LIMI feu

Parent: YOHJI YAMAMOTO Inc.

Women; ready-to-wear; accessories

Sibling house brand designed under the Yohji Yamamoto corporate family. 2026 Isetan Shinjuku and Mitsukoshi Isetan exclusives are valid narrow-distribution LIMI feu product contexts.

Authentication context

Label / logo: LIMI feu-specific wordmark and labels; do not compare to Yohji Yamamoto or Y's neck labels.

Identifiers: LIMI feu line wording; product code; care/manufacturer label; seasonal archive. September 2026: Check Shirts and Long Check Shirts are Isetan Shinjuku exclusives; Check Skirt is Mitsukoshi Isetan exclusive.

Collection relationship: Independent sibling house collection; brand name changed to LIMI feu in 2002.

Authentication note

Treat LIMI feu as its own house brand, not as a generic Yohji diffusion tag. Line-specific product codes and label eras control.

Narrow Japanese retailer provenance can strengthen dating and should not be penalized for lack of broad international listings.

Official reference
Sub-label Active 2017–present

Ground Y

Parent: YOHJI YAMAMOTO Inc.

Unisex; ready-to-wear; accessories

Gender-inclusive house brand/project with its own collections and collaborations.

Authentication context

Label / logo: Ground Y-specific block/wordmark treatments and collaboration co-branding.

Identifiers: Ground Y label; product code; exact collaboration/collection; care/manufacturer tag.

Collection relationship: Separate house line with seasonal collections; official archive supports activity from 2017.

Authentication note

Ground Y graphics and collaboration labels can differ substantially from namesake Yohji; authenticate to the exact Ground Y collection.

Official reference
Sub-label Active 2011–present

S'YTE

Parent: YOHJI YAMAMOTO Inc.

Unisex; ready-to-wear; collaborations; accessories

THE SHOP-originated/online-focused Yohji Yamamoto Inc. brand designed by the company creative team.

Authentication context

Label / logo: Preserve the apostrophe and exact S'YTE line branding; collaboration marks may be prominent.

Identifiers: S'YTE label; product code; collaboration partner/motif; care/manufacturer label.

Collection relationship: Separate real-clothes/collaboration brand rather than namesake runway label.

Authentication note

Do not reject a genuine S'YTE graphic or collaboration because it lacks mainline Yohji tailoring or label treatment.

Official reference
Sub-label Active 2022–present

WILDSIDE YOHJI YAMAMOTO

Parent: YOHJI YAMAMOTO Inc.

Unisex; apparel; accessories; collaborations; lifestyle

Conceptual project, original brand and collaboration platform launched in July 2022. Separate August 2026 cowboy-shirt and September 4, 2026 T-shirt/pants drops when dating WILDSIDE × NEEDLES.

Authentication context

Label / logo: WILDSIDE-specific branding; collaboration products require partner-specific co-branding comparison.

Identifiers: WILDSIDE line mark; Original vs collaboration context; product reference; partner mark where applicable. August: purple rose/double butterfly cowboy shirt. September: tie-dye 100% cotton T-shirt, pants and different collaboration-exclusive embroidery colors.

Collection relationship: Conceptual/project platform and original collections, not the namesake Paris runway label.

Authentication note

First decide whether the object is WILDSIDE Original or a WILDSIDE collaboration. A partner mark is expected on many genuine releases and is not evidence of a counterfeit by itself.

Use drop-level visual routing for 2026 WILDSIDE × NEEDLES rather than collaborator-name matching alone.

Official reference
Sub-label Historical

Yohji Yamamoto +NOIR

Parent: Yohji Yamamoto

Women; ready-to-wear

Historical Yohji Yamamoto line retained in THE SHOP archive/Vintage structure.

Authentication context

Label / logo: Exact +NOIR wording and era-specific labels; preserve plus sign and capitalization.

Identifiers: +NOIR label; product code; care/manufacturer tag; seasonal archive match.

Collection relationship: Official online archive documents +NOIR collections through the 2020-21/2021 period.

Authentication note

Current absence from the main brand menu does not make an older +NOIR label suspicious. Date it through period-specific labels and official archive evidence.

Official reference
Sub-label Historical 2016–2021

B Yohji Yamamoto

Parent: Yohji Yamamoto

Women; ready-to-wear

Historical Yohji Yamamoto line with official seasonal archive and current Vintage retention.

Authentication context

Label / logo: B Yohji Yamamoto line wording; compare exact typography and care tags to documented era.

Identifiers: B Yohji Yamamoto label; product/style code; season; materials and care/manufacturer tag.

Collection relationship: Official archive spans A/W 2016-17 through 2020-21/SS21 in the currently indexed record.

Authentication note

Do not reject a B Yohji Yamamoto label because the line is no longer in the current top menu. Historical dating is required.

Official reference
Sub-label Historical 2019–2022

BLACK Scandal Yohji Yamamoto

Parent: Yohji Yamamoto

Ready-to-wear; graphics; capsules

Historical BLACK Scandal Yohji Yamamoto line/capsule program retained in THE SHOP Vintage archive.

Authentication context

Label / logo: BLACK Scandal Yohji Yamamoto wording and capsule-specific graphics/co-branding.

Identifiers: BLACK Scandal line wording; exact graphic/capsule; product reference; care/manufacturer tag.

Collection relationship: Official archive documents seasonal/capsule activity across 2019-2022.

Authentication note

Graphic content can be intentionally provocative or collaboration-specific; authenticate exact art, print method, label and product code rather than judging subject matter.

Official reference
Sub-label Historical

Y's PINK

Parent: Y's

Women; ready-to-wear

Historical Y's line retained as a dedicated THE SHOP collection/Vintage category.

Authentication context

Label / logo: Y's PINK line wording; compare label treatment to the documented season and exact product.

Identifiers: Y's PINK line label; product/style code; care/manufacturer tag; collection evidence.

Collection relationship: Official Yohji news documents Y's PINK activity through 2021; THE SHOP retains dedicated archive pages.

Authentication note

Treat Y's PINK as a legitimate historical Y's line. Its absence from the current main brand menu is not a red flag; date the piece through exact label, product-code and archive evidence.

Official reference

Primary sources: Yohji Yamamoto official corporate Collection/News pages, THE SHOP YOHJI YAMAMOTO current brand filters and archives, and official adidas Y-3 partnership materials. Physical label wording and exact product references control item-level authentication.

03A

Private Analysis

Yohji Yamamoto Results-Only Analyzer

Upload the complete tag evidence or enter the visible code exactly. The private Sui Generis server returns only a bounded result or unknown / insufficient evidence.

Privacy boundary: research rules, examples, sources, tests, scoring methods and database structure are never sent to this page.

Sui Generis Intelligence

Analyze Yohji Yamamoto labels

Add the label evidence available on the item. For clothing, a brand or neck label can support a bounded product result while care/product labels can supply visible size, origin, materials and identifiers. Up to four photos can be analyzed together.

Add up to four label photos. For clothing, include the brand/neck label and the care/product label when available; front and back tag photos can be analyzed together. The storefront does not save the selected photos.

Results only

Submit the exact visible reference

If the private server cannot support a result, the analyzer returns unknown rather than guessing.

03B

Collection Chronology

Yohji Yamamoto Collection Chronology

Use the newest verified collections first, then open the decade drawers for older runway and archive references.

2026
September 2026 Yohji Yamamoto × Repetto Bolchoï 2026-09-14
Yohji Yamamoto Yohji Yamamoto
Reinterpretation of Repetto’s ballet-derived Bolchoï model; announced September 1 for September 14 release.
2026
September 2026 WILDSIDE × NEEDLES September Drop 2026-09-04
WILDSIDE YOHJI YAMAMOTO
Separate from the August cowboy-shirt release. T-shirts and pants use collaboration-exclusive embroidery colors; the 100% cotton T-shirt has tie-dye treatment.
2026
September 2026 First Eyewear Collection 2026-09-04
Yohji Yamamoto GOTHIC Yohji Yamamoto
First eyewear for the POUR HOMME-related GOTHIC line: Wellington-style acetate sunglasses incorporating 925 silver. Preview release August 26; general release September 4.
2026
Autumn/Winter 2026–27 Isetan Shinjuku Renewal Exclusives 2026-09-02
LIMI feu
Check Shirts and Long Check Shirts are Isetan Shinjuku exclusives; Check Skirt is a Mitsukoshi Isetan exclusive. Selected AW26–27 pieces were available ahead of wider distribution.
2026
August 2026 Y’s SUPER POSITION OKAYAMA 1st Anniversary 2026-08-29
Y’s
Store-exclusive denim and cotton shirts use a hand-drawn-style painted treatment with intentional piece-to-piece visual variation.

03C

Special Projects

Yohji Yamamoto Collaborations & Special Editions

Yohji Yamamoto collaborations must be separated from the Yohji Yamamoto-owned brand family before authentication. The principal long-running example is Y-3: an adidas-owned design partnership with Yohji Yamamoto. Project co-branding, adidas article references and collaboration-specific construction should be evaluated against the exact model and season rather than against Yohji mainline labels.

Official collaboration / heritage reference
Chronology

Yohji Yamamoto collaboration timeline

2002 adidas
2000s 2010s 2020s 2025+
Method

Special-edition authentication workflow

  1. Identify projectCollaboration / edition
  2. Place the eraOriginal, tribute, reissue
  3. Study designMotif, material, color
  4. Check identifiersReference, markings, labels
  5. Cross-check evidenceConstruction, source, provenance
View full collaborations & special-edition archive
2002–present — adidas Y-3 design partnership 1 projects

Y-3 is kept outside the Yohji Yamamoto-owned brand family. It is modeled here as the adidas-owned design partnership with Yohji Yamamoto, including Y-3 KURO within the partnership boundary rather than as a Yohji house sub-label.

2002
Y-3 adidas
Brand collaboration
Use adidas/Y-3 article and product-code conventions for Y-3. Do not describe an adidas article code as a Yohji Yamamoto mainline serial or use Yohji house-line code assumptions to decode it.

Y-3 is modeled as an adidas-owned design partnership with Yohji Yamamoto, not as a Yohji Yamamoto-owned house sub-label. Authenticate the exact Y-3 model and season through adidas/Y-3 labels, article/product references, construction, materials and co-branding. Y-3 KURO is treated as a program within the adidas/Yohji partnership, not as an internal Yohji Yamamoto brand line.

Authentication rule. A recognizable collaboration motif is a dating clue, not proof of authenticity. Reissues remain separate when the same design language returns in a later production era. Y-3 is documented as the adidas/Yohji Yamamoto partnership founded in 2002. This archive models it outside the Yohji Yamamoto-owned brand family and keeps Y-3 KURO within the partnership boundary.
Educational Authentication Guide Collaborations & Special Editions

Educational reference only — authenticate using the complete item and multiple points of comparison.

04

Authentication Guide

How to Authenticate Yohji Yamamoto Clothing

Start with the label family and era, then move outward to fabric and construction. Yohji-related labels range from handwritten/script treatments to stark block typography and line-specific marks. Y-3 is an adidas-owned design partnership with Yohji Yamamoto and follows adidas/Y-3 product, label and code conventions. Y's, UNDER Y's, Ground Y, S'YTE and other Yohji Yamamoto-owned lines require line-specific comparison. Do not reject a genuine item because it lacks the exact neck label used by Yohji Yamamoto POUR HOMME.

For Yohji Yamamoto clothing, useful evidence includes the neck/brand label, care and composition labels, style/product references, manufacturing information, hardware/trims and the physical quality of wool gabardine, cotton, silk, linen, technical textiles, leather, rubber and line-specific collaborative materials. A garment that passes only the logo test is not authenticated.

UNDER Y's launched on August 14, 2026 as a Y's base-layer collection. Its nine close-to-body styles use highly stretchable fabric with UV protection rated UPF 50+, and the collection has dedicated packaging. Treat UNDER Y's as a Y's line: its labels and packaging should be evaluated against documented UNDER Y's examples rather than mainline Yohji Yamamoto or generic performance-wear conventions.

Y's × NEW ERA® 2026-27 A/W is a Y's-line collaboration released on August 19, 2026. The 22-item collection extends beyond headwear to apparel and bags alongside updated 9TWENTY™ variants and other hats. Authentic co-branding can therefore appear on Y's apparel, bags and headwear; identify the exact Y's × New Era product before applying line-specific code, label, material and construction checks.

Identify the exact house line before applying label, code or era rules. Current and historical lines include Yohji Yamamoto, Yohji Yamamoto POUR HOMME, Y's and its sub-lines, discord, LIMI feu, Ground Y, S'YTE, WILDSIDE and specialty programs such as REGULATION, GOTHIC and Yohji Yamamoto by RIEFE. Y-3 should be judged through adidas/Y-3 identifiers rather than Yohji mainline conventions.

For September 2026, LIMI feu issued Check Shirts and Long Check Shirts as Isetan Shinjuku exclusives, while the Check Skirt is a Mitsukoshi Isetan exclusive. Narrow Japanese distribution is valid provenance and should strengthen dating context rather than be treated as suspicious because broad international listings are absent.

Yohji Yamamoto Brand Universe — Sui Generis Intelligence
Yohji Yamamoto Brand Universe — Sui Generis Intelligence
Yohji Yamamoto House Story — Sui Generis Intelligence
Yohji Yamamoto House Story — Sui Generis Intelligence
01

Brand & Neck Labels

Yohji-related labels range from handwritten/script treatments to stark block typography and line-specific marks. Y-3 is an adidas-owned design partnership with Yohji Yamamoto rather than a Yohji Yamamoto-owned sub-label. Y's, UNDER Y's, Ground Y, S'YTE and other verified house lines must be compared to their own documented labels. Do not reject a genuine item because it lacks the exact neck label used by Yohji Yamamoto POUR HOMME.

Sui Generis approach: first establish the likely era and product category, then compare the wordmark/logo, label construction, typography and placement to documented examples from that same period. A genuine vintage label can be very different from the current retail label.

Brand labels, size tabs and care/product labels should be assessed as a set. For Yohji Yamamoto, expected construction can change by line and era, but the label materials, edge finishing, stitch attachment, printing/weaving quality, fiber/origin information and wear should be internally coherent.

A label that looks older than the garment, a pristine label on a heavily worn item, a care label whose language/fiber data conflict with the garment, or obviously re-sewn label stitches are reasons to slow down. Alterations can move or remove labels, so document tailoring evidence before concluding the label was transplanted.

UNDER Y's launched on August 14, 2026 as a Y's base-layer collection. Its nine close-to-body styles use highly stretchable fabric with UV protection rated UPF 50+, and the collection has dedicated packaging. Treat UNDER Y's as a Y's line: its labels and packaging should be evaluated against documented UNDER Y's examples rather than mainline Yohji Yamamoto or generic performance-wear conventions.

Identify the exact house line before applying label, code or era rules. Current and historical lines include Yohji Yamamoto, Yohji Yamamoto POUR HOMME, Y's and its sub-lines, discord, LIMI feu, Ground Y, S'YTE, WILDSIDE and specialty programs such as REGULATION, GOTHIC and Yohji Yamamoto by RIEFE. Y-3 should be judged through adidas/Y-3 identifiers rather than Yohji mainline conventions.

02

Care & Composition Labels

Read the Yohji Yamamoto care label literally before trying to date it. Record composition, country of origin, manufacturer/company/RN where present, size, care symbols, languages and every style/production reference. Check whether those facts are plausible for the garment you are holding.

Care tags are frequently counterfeited because they look technical. Misaligned printing, inconsistent fonts, impossible fiber data, code formats from another era or labels whose wear does not match the garment are useful red flags. Do not cut away a questionable tag before photographing it; the contradictions may be the most valuable evidence.

03

Style & Product Codes

Modern Yohji Yamamoto house-family products use line-specific product/style references. Y-3 sits outside that owned family as an adidas design partnership with Yohji Yamamoto and follows adidas/Y-3 product-code conventions. Keep those systems separate and match the exact line, model, color and season before interpreting any number.

A strong workflow is: copy the reference exactly (including letters, punctuation and leading zeroes), search for exact matches, confirm the same category/silhouette/material/color, then compare the physical label font and placement. Counterfeiters can copy a valid style number from a genuine item, so a successful web match is supportive rather than conclusive.

For Y's × NEW ERA® 2026-27 A/W, keep the collaboration inside the Y's line and match the exact apparel, bag or headwear model to documented Y's/New Era references. Do not interpret New Era co-branding with mainline Yohji Yamamoto or Y-3 code conventions.

WILDSIDE × NEEDLES has distinct August and September 2026 drops. The September 4 release adds T-shirts and pants with collaboration-exclusive embroidery colors; identify it at drop level rather than merging it with the August cowboy-shirt release.

04

Construction & Materials

Yohji garments can use asymmetric drape, oversized proportion, raw-looking edges and complex internal pattern cutting. Evaluate fabric quality, seam control, balance, pocket/closure engineering and how the garment hangs against the documented design rather than imposing a conventional fitted-tailoring standard.

At Sui Generis, construction is compared to the specific design, not a generic luxury checklist. Deliberately raw, oversized, distressed or deconstructed pieces can be authentic, but the effect should still match documented examples and show intentional control.

For A/W 2026–27, Yohji Yamamoto POUR HOMME × ISAMU KATAYAMA BACKLASH combines BACKLASH specialist leather treatment with POUR HOMME patternmaking, so compare leather execution to collaboration-specific examples. WILDSIDE × NEEDLES August 2026 intentionally uses a collaboration-exclusive purple WILDSIDE rose with double NEEDLES butterfly embroidery; that purple color and altered motif placement are dating clues, not automatic red flags.

The September 4, 2026 WILDSIDE × NEEDLES drop uses a substantial 100% cotton T-shirt with tie-dye treatment plus collaboration-exclusive embroidery colors on T-shirts and pants. These traits belong to a separate September release, not the August cowboy-shirt reference.

Look More Closely

Common Authentication Red Flags

  • Y-3 treated as a Yohji Yamamoto-owned sub-label, or Y's, Ground Y, S'YTE and namesake labels treated as interchangeable
  • An adidas/Y-3 product code described as a Yohji mainline serial or house-line code
  • Oversized black styling treated as brand proof without tags/construction
  • Line or season product reference that conflicts with the object

At Sui Generis Designer Consignment in San Francisco, we treat authentication as a whole-item assessment. A correct-looking code, tag, dust bag, box, receipt, QR symbol, NFC feature, logo, or country stamp is useful evidence, but none proves authenticity by itself. Details change across eras, factories, categories, repairs, and special editions, while counterfeiters continually copy known markers. Compare several independent characteristics, and seek experienced physical review for high-value or uncertain pieces.

05

Leather Goods

How to Authenticate Yohji Yamamoto Bags

Bags should first be assigned to the exact house line — for example Yohji Yamamoto, Y's, discord or another verified line — then compared by material, hardware, strap geometry, label, lining and product code. Y-3 bags are an external adidas/Yohji partnership category rather than a Yohji-owned house line and should show coherent adidas/Y-3 identification.

Begin by identifying the exact model/generation and comparing dimensions, materials, closure, interior, handle/strap configuration and product reference before focusing on logo minutiae.

Y's × NEW ERA® 2026-27 A/W is a Y's-line collaboration scheduled for release on August 19, 2026. The 22-item collection extends beyond headwear to eight apparel styles and three bags, alongside updated 9TWENTY variants and other hats. Authentic co-branding can therefore appear on Y's apparel, bags and headwear; identify the exact Y's × New Era product before applying line-specific code, label, material and construction checks.

discord Yohji Yamamoto's FW 2026–27 Unevenness drawstring shoulder evolves the earlier Unevenness concept into an intentionally asymmetric, shape-shifting drawstring bag with three D-rings. Natural smooth-cowhide variation and changing drape are expected. Official Gunmetal example DW-I36-705-1-02 is a useful model anchor, but it should not be generalized into a universal DW-I36 decoding rule.

01

Interior Brand Stamp

Apply the logo/label guidance to the bag's actual branding medium: foil or blind stamp, woven label, metal plaque, embroidery or molded hardware. Yohji-related labels range from handwritten/script treatments to stark block typography and line-specific marks. Y-3 is an adidas-owned design partnership with Yohji Yamamoto, not a Yohji Yamamoto-owned house sub-label. Y's, Ground Y, S'YTE and the other verified house lines use their own branding conventions. Do not reject a genuine item because it lacks the exact neck label used by Yohji Yamamoto POUR HOMME.

Inspect spacing, depth, alignment and placement, but allow for the way leather grain, textile weave and wear change the appearance of a genuine stamp. A perfect-looking stamp on the wrong model is still a problem.

02

Serial & Style Codes

No brand-published universal unique serial-number system was identified for every product in this category. Numbers on care labels, leather tabs, soles, boxes, hangtags, or hardware may instead be style, size, supplier, production, or inventory references. Identify the code type and match it to the exact model and era before assigning meaning.

If a seller calls a shared style/reference number a 'unique serial,' verify that claim against a brand-published source before repeating it.

Modern Yohji Yamamoto house-family products use line-specific product/style references; Y-3 sits outside that owned family and follows adidas/Y-3 product-code conventions. Keep those systems separate and match the exact line, model, color and season before interpreting any number.

03

Hardware & Stitching

Bags should first be assigned to Yohji Yamamoto, Y's, discord or another correct Yohji house line, then compared by material, hardware, strap geometry, label, lining and product code. Y-3 is an external adidas/Yohji design partnership; co-branded Y-3 items should show coherent adidas/Y-3 identification.

Inspect hardware from multiple angles: casting/machining, plating, logo engraving, screws/rivets, zipper action, clasp geometry and attachment to the body. Stitch length and tension should be consistent with the model, especially at handles, corners and stress points. Repairs can replace zippers, screws or straps, so note repair evidence separately from original manufacture.

04

Leather, Canvas & Lining

Expected materials may include wool gabardine, cotton, silk, linen, technical textiles, leather, rubber and line-specific collaborative materials. Verify that grain, hand, thickness, weave/print and lining correspond to the exact model and stated composition.

Material should be assessed against documented examples rather than price-based assumptions: some authentic seasonal pieces intentionally use nylon, coated canvas, distressed leather or synthetic components. The question is whether the material is correct for that item and executed to the expected standard.

Look More Closely

Common Bag Authentication Red Flags

  • Y-3 treated as a Yohji Yamamoto-owned sub-label, or Y's, Ground Y, S'YTE and namesake labels treated as interchangeable
  • An adidas/Y-3 product code described as a Yohji mainline serial or house-line code
  • Oversized black styling treated as brand proof without tags/construction
  • Line or season product reference that conflicts with the object
  • Hardware, lining or leather/textile that conflicts with the exact documented model
  • A serial/style/QR clue treated as proof despite construction mismatches

At Sui Generis Designer Consignment in San Francisco, we treat authentication as a whole-item assessment. A correct-looking code, tag, dust bag, box, receipt, QR symbol, NFC feature, logo, or country stamp is useful evidence, but none proves authenticity by itself. Details change across eras, factories, categories, repairs, and special editions, while counterfeiters continually copy known markers. Compare several independent characteristics, and seek experienced physical review for high-value or uncertain pieces.

06

Footwear

How to Authenticate Yohji Yamamoto Shoes

Footwear authentication is strongly line-dependent. For Yohji Yamamoto and Y's-family shoes, use the exact line's insole/outsole wording, origin information, construction and product reference. Y-3 is an adidas-owned design partnership with Yohji Yamamoto, not a Yohji Yamamoto-owned sub-label; use adidas/Y-3 product codes, sole tooling, co-branding and size tags for those pairs and never mix the two systems.

For a thorough evaluation, photograph the pair together plus outsoles, insoles, size/origin marks, heel/sole profile, toe shape and any style code. Confirm both shoes agree. Wear, protective soles and cobbler repairs can change original components, so document alterations before treating them as authenticity failures.

The Yohji Yamamoto × Repetto collaboration released September 14, 2026 reinterprets Repetto’s ballet-derived Bolchoï model. Match the exact Bolchoï-derived silhouette and Yohji collaboration details before treating unusual Repetto/Yohji co-branding as suspicious.

07

Accessories

How to Authenticate Yohji Yamamoto Accessories

Hats, scarves, wallets and other accessories should be evaluated through exact line, material, product reference and branding. Graphic S'YTE or Ground Y pieces can be authentic despite very different labels from mainline Yohji Yamamoto. discord Yohji Yamamoto is an important house accessories/bag line, while Yohji Yamamoto by RIEFE is a dedicated jewelry line. Y-3 accessories sit outside the owned family as part of the adidas/Yohji design partnership.

Because accessories are easy to separate from original packaging, authenticate the object itself first. Dust bags, boxes, cards and receipts are provenance clues only and can be switched or counterfeited.

Y's × NEW ERA® 2026-27 A/W is a Y's-line collaboration scheduled for release on August 19, 2026. The 22-item collection extends beyond headwear to eight apparel styles and three bags, alongside updated 9TWENTY™ variants and other hats. Authentic co-branding can therefore appear on Y's apparel, bags and headwear; identify the exact Y's × New Era product before applying line-specific code, label, material and construction checks. For headwear, compare the exact silhouette and collaboration details, including the 9TWENTY™ variants, Knit Bucket, The Trapper and Cuff Knit, rather than assuming all Y's × New Era pieces follow one cap format.

GOTHIC Yohji Yamamoto expanded into eyewear for the first time in 2026 with a Wellington-style acetate sunglass incorporating 925 silver. Treat GOTHIC as a POUR HOMME-related accessory line and recognize eyewear as a documented category from this launch onward.

08

Jewelry

How to Authenticate Yohji Yamamoto Jewelry

Yohji Yamamoto jewelry must first be assigned to the exact line. Yohji Yamamoto by RIEFE is an official jewelry line launched in 2021, while GOTHIC Yohji Yamamoto and other house collections can also include jewelry/accessories. Compare the precise design, metal finish, casting, stone or decorative setting, closures, dimensions, marks, packaging and product reference to documented examples from that line and era.

Do not infer precious-metal content or gemstone identity from a Yohji logo alone. Where value depends on fineness or stones, verify material independently. Y-3 jewelry/accessories, where encountered, belong to the adidas/Yohji partnership and should not be authenticated as Yohji-owned house-line jewelry.

GOTHIC Yohji Yamamoto’s 2026 first-eyewear release combines a Wellington-style acetate frame with 925 silver. The precious-metal detail should be checked against the exact model and official reference; it does not establish authenticity by itself.

10

Method & Rights

Yohji Yamamoto Research Sources & Image Rights

Research method

Sui Generis organizes Yohji Yamamoto identifiers by function: product/style reference, care-tag or season clue, serial/production context, and digital credentials. A visible code is identification evidence, not an authenticity verdict. Exact date or season claims are published only when the format is documented for the relevant line and era.

Primary/public research in the current V8.4 pass uses Yohji Yamamoto official corporate Collection and News pages, THE SHOP YOHJI YAMAMOTO current brand filters and archives, the official Yohji Yamamoto by RIEFE launch notice, and official adidas Y-3 partnership materials. The Brand Family record deliberately keeps Y-3/Y-3 KURO outside the Yohji-owned family as the adidas-owned design partnership with Yohji Yamamoto.

Confidence: High for directly cited official product/digital-program facts; Medium or Context only for secondary archival code patterns. No visible code is treated as an authenticity certificate.

Hero image rights

Brand names and marks are used for identification and education. Sui Generis Designer Consignment is not affiliated with or endorsed by Yohji Yamamoto.

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Yohji Yamamoto label inspection map

Yohji Yamamoto house line, Y-3 partnership, product code and season inspection infographic from Sui Generis Intelligence
Use the complete label set and dated collection records together. A code or product-record match does not authenticate the submitted physical item.

Sui Generis Intelligence · Gold Star

Yohji Yamamoto Authentication Evidence Map

Detailed house context, label and code checks, construction evidence, red flags, and a worked inspection example.

Yohji Yamamoto Sui Generis Gold Star authentication evidence map

Authentication aid for distinguishing Yohji Yamamoto house lines from adjacent programs and partnerships. Y-3 is an adidas-owned design partnership with Yohji Yamamoto and is not part of the Yohji Yamamoto-owned brand family.

Authentication-focused map of Yohji Yamamoto house-owned lines, historical labels, product and program designations, partner brands, merchandising buckets, and external collaborations.

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