The first large-format book on AMBUSH®, one of the most influential streetwear and accessories brands to come out of Japan in the last two decades. Offering a deep dive into the brand’s teeming archive, this intuitively engineered monograph is a sleek essential for sneakerheads as well lovers of fashion, hip-hop, design, and architecture.
Founded in Tokyo in 2008, AMBUSH first gained notoriety for creating the “POW!” line of rings and pendants, a design heavily indebted to American pop-art and manga which took the world of hip-hop by storm. A multi-disciplinary fashion, jewelry and industrial design practice, AMBUSH is the brainchild of Korean-American designer YOON and Japanese-Korean performing artist VERBAL.
Championed from the very outset by the likes of Pharrell, NIGO® and Colette, YOON’s jewelry designs often include bold motifs as seen in collections drawn from everyday objects such as office stationery, safety pins, and disposable lighters. Growing into a full fashion line that drew inspiration from the DIY aesthetic of German and Swiss rock-and-roll gangs from the 1960, campy horror films, surf and skate culture, and the apocalyptic anime of the 1980s and 1990s, AMBUSH’s open embrace of pop-culture grew a devoted following well beyond Harajuku. With Kim Jones and the late Virgil Abloh as later admirers, AMBUSH’s growing list of collaborators includes Dior, Louis Vuitton, Nike, Sacai, Off-White, and Billionaire Boys Club.
About The Author
YOON is the designer of AMBUSH®. In 2018, YOON was appointed as the Dior Men jewelry line director. VERBAL is co-founder of AMBUSH® and a performing artist.