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Wave Spirit: The Ukiyo-E Revival Sweatshirt Collection

Project Overview

Inspired by the elegance of traditional Japanese woodblock prints, “Wave Spirit” transforms iconic landscapes into flowing fashion. This collection merges the timeless grace of ukiyo-e with modern minimalism featuring majestic cranes, foaming waves, and Mount Fuji in serene indigo tones. A wearable canvas of nature, culture, and stillness in motion.

Year of Completion: 2025
Status: Active

Graphic Design

Each sweatshirt showcases an artful reimagining of The Great Wave off Kanagawa and other Edo-period compositions. Sweeping waveforms wrap around the garment, colliding with flying cranes, floating clouds, and stylized Japanese calligraphy. The use of deep blue gradients and fine contour lines captures the printmaking tradition, while the minimal cream base offers a modern silhouette.

Deliverables

  • Custom vector recreations of ukiyo-e elements

  • All-over print layouts optimized for high-fidelity production

  • Studio and lifestyle mockups for product pages

  • Campaign visuals for culture-forward fashion collaborations

Tools Used

  • Adobe Illustrator (Line Work & Composition)

  • Photoshop (Gradient Control & Mockup Rendering)

  • Procreate (Brushstroke Textures)

  • Midjourney (Cultural Scene Referencing)

Results Achieved

  • Art-Forward Popularity: Praised by collectors of Japanese artwear and minimalist design influencers.

  • Cultural Collaborations: Featured in pop-up exhibitions blending traditional art and fashion.

  • International Reach: Licensed in Japan and the UAE through niche boutique partnerships.

Challenges & Solutions

Challenges Faced:

  • Balancing authenticity with respectful reinterpretation.

  • Preserving fine linework and color transitions across textile prints.

Solutions Implemented:

  • Collaborated with Japanese type stylists to ensure accurate character use.

  • Employed advanced DTG printing with resolution boosts and tonal layering.

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