Kidill Bear - BE@RBRICK
Japanese designer Hiroaki Sueyasu launched the Tokyo brand Kidill in 2014. Kidill cultivated its unique look by blending punk, skate culture, and androgyny into wearable streetwear. The Japanese cult favorite made its formal debut at Paris Fashion Week in 2021 as part of an ultra-cool artist collaboration. Kidill's collaboration with Medicom Toy in 2018 caught the brand on the rise to widespread fame. The resulting figure, "BE@RBRICK Kidill Bear 100 & 400％," has quickly become a fan favorite and a must-have in any BE@RBRICK collection.
Kidill Bear x BE@RBRICK Collaboration Background
Kidill and Medicom Toy have partnered up a few times, creating some iconic BE@BRICK figures. The collaboration's most notable creations are the "KIDILL BEAR" and the "KIDILL CAT." With their creepy cute designs and a cool punk edge, they're the perfect brand representation and a must-have for any diehard Kidill fans.
Collaboration Planning and Launch History
The Kidill and Medicom Toy collaboration began in February 2018. That month two Kidill designs received BE@RBRICK figures. The "KIDILL BEAR" design resembles a two-faced blue tiger and the "KIDILL CAT" is a wild tuxedo cat with a freakish grin. The "KIDILL BEAR" appropriately debuted as a BE@RBRICK while the "KIDILL CAT" joined the NY@BRICK line. Each design launched as a two-part figure set including both a standard 100% and a 400% size figure. In January 200, Kidill partnered with Medicom Toy once again. This time, stylist and designer Eri Wakiyama joined the collaboration to create two sets of gothic romantic BE@RBRICK figures.
BE@RBRICK Kidill Bear 100 & 400％
The BE@RBRICK Kidill Bear perfectly reflects the streetwear brand's punk rock style: edgy and just a tad creepy. The figure's design features a black and blue striped tiger with two partially shared faces. White fur accents the chest and face as well as all four paws. Notably, the figure's double face captures the shocking quality of Kidill designs. The faces each have their own nose and mouth, grinning widely with the mouth's outline stretching far to the side. However, they share an eye, creating a disturbing line of three cartoon eyes across the face. All three eyes feature a small red pupil, giving them a diabolical look. In contrast to the busy design on the front, the back of the figure is relatively simple. The Kidill logo is printed in black on the lower back in the blank blue space between the tiger stripes. In a fun detail, the tiger's tail tucks down between its legs.
The set contains two figures. The smaller 100% size is 2.8 inches tall and the bigger 400% size is 11 inches tall.
- Product Name: BE@RBRICK Kidill Bear 100 & 400％
- Manufacturer: Medicom Toy
- Specifications: Set of 2 painted, articulated, non-scale plastic figures
- Height (Approx.):
100%: 70 mm | 2.8"
400%: 280 mm | 11"
Kidill Bear Background
Kidill is a Japanese streetwear brand influenced by British 80’s punk rock. Founder, Japanese designer Hiroaki Sueyasu, focuses on blending skate and punk culture into wearable fashion.
Kidill Bear Background: History
Sueyasu openly cites his influences from the 1980s and 90s British punk scene. He started designing clothes as a hobby, hand embroidering thrift store t-shirts for fun. The hobby grew and he launched the Kidill brand at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Tokyo in 2014. In 2017, Sueyasu won the Tokyo Governor's Prize in the Tokyo New Designer Fashion Grand Prix. This launched a string of collaborations with other designers, including iconic Japanese denim brand EDWIN. His most recent collection, the Fall/Winter 2021 runway line for the Paris Fashion Week, features work with British graphic artist Jamie Reid. The line transforms Reid's world-famous Ransom note collages into wearable statements.
Kidill Bear Background: Reception
Kidill took the world by storm with its punk inspirations. It immediately resonated with audiences for its clear visual message and smart use of patterns and prints. Above all, the brand stands out for the wearability of its designs.
Other Notable Kidill Bear Collaborations
Kidill has been collaborating with other fashion brands both domestically and internationally. Japanese collaborators include EDWIN, a well-known denim brand. Notable international brands include Dickies, popular for its durable workwear worn as a counterculture fashion statement. Sueyasu has also teamed up with artists, such as world-renowned punk icon Jamie Reid. In an iconic partnership, Sueyasu worked with Siouxsie Sioux for Kidill's Spring/Summer 2019 collection which earned the nickname “TOKYO PUNK CHIC.”
Related figures
Fans of Kidill should check out the Kidill x Eri Wakiyama BE@RBRICK collaboration released in May 2020. Other unique BE@RBRICK collaborations with Japanese clothing brands include Loopwheeler’s “BE@RBRICK Loopwheeler 100% & 400%.” The figure features a wearable patchwork outfit for its BE@RBRICK figure woven from the clothing company itself. It's a must-have for any BE@RBRICK fan.
Links
BE@RBRICK Kidill Bear 100 & 400％
BE@RBRICK Series
Loopwheeler - BE@RBRICK
BE@BRICK Label