Urban outdoor enthusiasts and Gorpcore aficionados, take note. White Mountaineering (WM)—the legendary brand founded by Yosuke Aizawa—has officially entered the high-end eyewear arena. Following the massive success of its highly sought-after collaborations with global giants like UNIQLO and ECCO, White Mountaineering has unveiled a major milestone for Summer 2026: its first-ever partnership with the elite Japanese eyewear house 999.9 (Four Nines), debuting the limited-edition WM-01 collection.
Personally designed by Yosuke Aizawa, this release carries immense historical and collector value. Following Aizawa’s formal departure from White Mountaineering on March 31, 2026, the WM-01 series represents a rare venture into eyewear design for the founder, serving as his definitive swansong and final project with the brand.
First teased during White Mountaineering’s Autumn/Winter 2026 runway show titled “Post De Stijl,” the collaboration highlights both brands’ uncompromising dedication to master craftsmanship. Channeling his sharp sartorial sensibilities, Aizawa has deconstructed 999.9’s classic Neo-Plastic composite frame. By infusing WM’s signature outdoor functional aesthetics into 999.9’s renowned ergonomic design, the partnership delivers a striking, exceptionally comfortable piece of eyewear tailored specifically for Asian facial features.
For detail-oriented collectors and streetwear purists, here are the three standout highlights that make this collaboration an absolute must-have:
Highlight 1: Mountain Ridges Hidden in the Details
True connoisseurs of White Mountaineering will instantly recognize the brand’s iconic geometric patterns. In this release, Aizawa takes an elegantly understated approach by engraving these mountain-inspired motifs onto the metal core wire, beautifully encased within translucent acetate temples. When caught in the light, the effect resembles magnificent mountain ridges frozen inside the frame. To elevate the sense of luxury, the refined titanium nose pads are also subtly engraved with the White Mountaineering logo.
Highlight 2: The Ultra-Limited “Clear Smoke” Colorway
While the collection is available in five distinct colorways, the “Clear Smoke” version stands out as the ultimate centerpiece. This specific iteration utilizes a highly transparent acetate to beautifully showcase the geometric engravings on the inner metal core. Because translucent frames leave absolutely zero room for imperfections or air bubbles, creating them requires an incredibly stringent material selection and a painstaking manual polishing process by master artisans—making it a pure testament to Japanese craftsmanship.
Highlight 3: Heavyweight Style Meets Supreme Comfort
Traditionally, thick acetate frames suffer from being heavy, slipping down the nose, or pinching the temples. However, partnering with 999.9—widely regarded as the gold standard of eyewear comfort in Japan—completely resolves this. The WM-01 features sculpted 6mm acetate that has been meticulously hand-polished to achieve a smooth, jade-like texture. Crucially, the frame inherits 999.9’s patented “Gyaku-R” (Reverse-R) hinges. This masterfully engineered mechanism evenly distributes pressure and absorbs structural tension, entirely eliminating the tight pinch common in heavy acetate frames and offering a weightless, secure fit.
Product & Release Information
Model: WM-01
Colorways: Clear Smoke, Charcoal Brown, Yellow Amber, Black, Matte Black
Retail Price: HKD 3,880
Release Date: Available in limited quantities at designated authorized retailers starting July 2, 2026.
Exclusive Accessories: Each pair includes a specially designed, premium all-black limited-edition eyewear case, custom packaging box, and a dedicated microfiber cleaning cloth.
Inquiries & Support:
Phone: +852 2369 0111
Email: [email protected]