HYM × Van Ness Wu
Project V ：Reconstructing Vinyl Aesthetics Through Van Ness Wu’s Streetwear Vision
Traditional audio equipment has long been confined within a shell of strict industrial utility. This time, HYM shatters convention by handing the creative reins to global fashion icon and multi-hyphenate artist Van Ness Wu. Serving as the chief designer, Wu infuses his razor-sharp fashion sensibilities and deep subcultural roots directly into music hardware. Following 18 months of rigorous co-development, Project V officially makes its global debut on April 13.
The Taste Matrix of "V"
In an era dominated by fleeting streams and sterile algorithms, music is often reduced to mere background noise. For Van Ness Wu, however, listening is an intentional, immersive "Moment". Project V is a direct translation of his personal taste, rooted in decades of vinyl obsession—from digging for records in Los Angeles during his youth to embracing turntablism within hip-hop culture. Here, "V" acts as his multi-dimensional aesthetic matrix: Van Ness, Vinyl , Vintage and Vibes. It is designed not just as a device, but as a statement piece of "sound furniture" that defines the modern living space.
Denim as a Living Canvas
Driven by a desire to challenge the boundaries of design, Van Ness bypassed traditional wood veneers and sleek leathers, seeking a tactile medium that could authentically embody the passage of time. His ultimate choice was denim—a material defined by its raw, uncompromising vitality that refuses to be static or confined.
The Canvas of Time
Rejecting basic patchwork, Wu chose a premium white cotton denim base, applying high-precision printing to recreate intricate, vintage multi-layered textures.
The "Raw Denim" Evolution
Treated with artisanal washing, this custom fabric acts like "Raw Denim." With everyday handling and light exposure, it naturally fades, growing a personalized patina unique to the user.
Grunge Nostalgia
To honor the rebellious, deconstructed spirit of 1990s Grunge music, Wu curated a palette of low-saturation dark purple and charcoal grey denim, resurrecting classic anti-establishment attitudes through distressed textures.
Purple Flame & Stitch Optical Sorcery
The defining visual anchor of Project V is a striking, deconstructed purple flame. This motif is a direct projection of Wu’s California roots, capturing the raw energy and velocity of West Coast car customization culture. Rather than a mere design choice, this distinct shade of purple stems from his deep personal preference, serving as an homage to the bold artistic rebellion of Prince's 1984 masterpiece, Purple Rain.
Sartorial Dimension
Rejecting basic patchwork, Wu chose a premium white cotton denim base, applying high-precision printing to recreate intricate, vintage multi-layered textures.
100,000 Stitches of Fluidity
To capture a fluid sense of motion, Wu detailed the flame's perimeter with over 100,000 stitches of high-density embroidery.
Chameleon Light Play
Utilizing a specialized pale purple pearlescent thread, the border shifts dynamically under different lighting—gleaming with a sharp silver edge under direct light and glowing with a subtle lavender hue in shadow, imparting a fluid sense of speed.
Audio Rigor & Streetwear Innovation
Wu selected HYM’s acclaimed Seed All-in-One Turntable architecture to house his design vision. The player’s iconic inverted trapezoidal curved surface serves as his dynamic three-dimensional canvas, wrapped entirely by hand via a highly sophisticated manual upholstery process.
Beneath the sartorial exterior lies elite engineering: HYM’s patented 3-point suspension system that reduces vibration interference to near-zero, and a custom-tuned four-driver speaker system that ensures a pristine, full-frequency audio reproduction from deep bass grooves to high-fidelity details.
From the intentional aging of raw denim to the meticulous glow of the purple flame, every millimeter reflects Van Ness Wu's uncompromising fashion taste. When you run your hand across its surface, you aren’t just touching fabric—you are interacting with a timeless, physical manifesto on subculture, design, and sound.
