New iamkyami Merchandise Drop: Big Dreams, Bigger Forehead and Signature Logo Hoodie
Hey big head! I'm excited to announce that I'm back with some new merchandise, and it's been a wild but fun journey creating these pieces. In this blog, I want to take you behind the scenes of my latest releases, the "BIG DREAMS, BIGGER FOREHEAD" graphic foam trucker hat and the signature logo hoodie. These designs are more than just clothing; they're a blend of inspiration from what inspires me online, IRL and my Japanese and Black American heritage, reflecting my personal journey as an artist. Let's get into the creative process together.
A Slogan Chosen by You:
I've always believed in the power of community, and that's why I turned to Instagram and TikTok to let you, my big forehead online community, choose the slogan for this merchandise drop. The winning slogan, "Big Dreams, Bigger Forehead," was the result of your votes, and it was so funny to see how many people related to this. We out here, we got big foreheads and WE’RE PROUD!
The Influence of My Heritage:
My cultural heritage plays a significant role in the design of the Harajuku/Y2K graphic featured on the trucker hat. As a Japanese and Black American person, I feel like it’s been a constant battle in my life to understand and accept what it means to be both. I’ve always felt as though I had to choose one or the other but I’ve come to realize in the past few years that my duality is so important to me and I wouldn’t be who I am today without it. There’s so many memes about Blasians and how we’re so proud to be Blasian but listen man, I LOVE BEING JAPANESE AND BEING BLACK AMERICAN. It is actually very lit so, the memes are right I guess.
I’ve been really inspired by my recent trip to Saitama, Japan where my mom grew up. Getting to experience Japan in a new way as an adult (I always went to Japan with my family growing up and once by myself when I was 12 but still a kid so I just did everything my family did, besides get lost on my Baba’s bike in our neighborhood before my Gigi came scooting around the corner to find me) was such a privilege and something I never thought I would be able to do on my own. Harajuku fashion stems from inspiration from so many styles and a lot from Black American fashion and in my opinion, Harajuku fashion has become its own style in its own right. It goes without saying but the original Y2K fashion is about Black American culture, let's not get it twisted. I took inspiration from both of these styles to create these pieces.
The Versatile Trucker Hat:
The "BIG DREAMS, BIGGER FOREHEAD" graphic foam trucker hat is not just a hat; it's a fashion statement that knows no boundaries. Whether you're wearing a princess dress, a shirt and tie, or just a plain hoodie, this hat adds a touch of edginess to any outfit, and I believe it's versatile enough to suit so many different styles. I’ve always been a bit of a fashionista. If you follow me on socials you’ll know that I dip a toe into the fashion world. One of my favourite fashion books titled, ‘Style On The Street: from Tokyo and Beyond’ by Rei Shito talks a lot of different aspects of Japanese streetwear and style and how it often blends aspects of 2 or more styles to create a cleverly unique look that leaves you asking yourself, “why didn’t I think of that?” This is called Hazushi or Zurashi and it speaks a lot to me about how I dress myself. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves streetwear and contemporary Japanese style.
A Homage to My Heritage with the Bunny Head Emblem Hoodie:
For the signature logo hoodie, I collaborated with my friend and talented artist JanCarlo Caling to bring a piece of my cherished childhood to life. The bunny head design was inspired by a Hello Kitty rabbit coin purse I got in Japan when I was little. It's a symbol of nostalgia and holds a special place in my heart as one of the few items I brought with me when I moved from America to the UK.
A Journey of Self-Discovery:
Taking a break from releasing merchandise for nearly two years was a crucial part of my journey as an artist. It allowed me to delve into my visual identity and determine how I want my merch to represent me. I never thought that this would be such an integral part of being an artist, but I've really enjoyed the process this time around. It's incredibly fulfilling to involve my online community in the design, and I hope you all enjoy the pieces as much as I enjoyed creating them.
My latest merchandise drop is a story of personal growth, community involvement, and the rich cultural influences that have shaped me into who I am today. Whether you've been a long-time fan or just discovered my work, this collection is a reflection of my evolution as an artist and the power of blending diverse influences to create something truly unique. Get ready to wear your "BIG DREAMS, BIGGER FOREHEAD" with pride and embrace the signature iamkyami logo hoodie as a symbol of heritage and individuality. This isn't just merch; it's a piece of my heart and soul.
*As a way to stand up against geno£ide and ethn!c cleansing, I am donating 10% of profits from this drop to the charity MAP*
Much love,
Kyami x
