As an island nation, Japan’s culture has developed in a unique fashion.
In the latter years of the 19th century Japan was led towards modernization with heavy influences from the West, thus incorporating western cultures, lifestyles, and values into daily life.
However Japan was unique in that it took these foreign cultures – incorporated and elevated these outsider elements into a perspective that was unique and ingenuous.
Foods became Yo-shoku ( European Western style Food ); architecture became Yo-fu Kenchiku ( European Western style Architecture ) and fashion became Yo-fuku ( European Western style Fashion ).
On a global scale, Japanese culture developed in a manner much akin to the Galapagos.
Yo- meaning “European” or “Western” influences At times adding to and at other instances subtracting – the aesthetics of Japan have continued to create internationally relevant pieces of art and culture.
Each such piece holds a strength and brilliance that stands the test of time.
This core is something to be eternally inherited.
Through hearts foreign and domestic.
TAAKK
In a similar way that Japanese designers before me –
The greats from the 1980s and the 1990s,
Their works shifted the global paradigm
And led me to where I am with such intense shock and admiration.
The ‘Yo-fuku’ ( European Western style Fashion ) created by these designers demonstrated their originality to the world,
And created the “Classical” for us Japanese designers.
But I do ask myself –
In the modern climate where trends travel a mile a minute
And designers follow suit as part of a huge market
Does this Galapagos-like uniqueness –
This ‘Yo-fuku’ still have a strong presence?
The ‘Yo-fuku’ that we create
Have the “Classical” elements of our predecessors been properly inherited?
Thus I go to the groundwork of technique
Shifting my perspective and giving birth and evolution to newness.
All in an effort to discover the possibilities of design.
And I add to that, the passion that stirs my own creativity.
The complexity that exists behind simplicity –
The dynamism that breathes within calm –
The avant-garde that dwells within polish –
The imaginings and superstitions within the day-to-day –
The counterpoints. The items which shake your sense of normality.
Everything is an intrigue for such “aha” moments.
I believe this –
When we bring everything together –
We will continue sharing with the world, an unique display of ‘Yo-fuku’
About the Spring-Summer 2025’ Main Fabrics
Gradient Woven Fabric
The transition of fabrics from fine cotton to seasonal summer wool and linens has uncovered new design potential. As the translucent cotton voile shirt makes its way to the hem, it transitions into a wool tailored jacket. The union joins two nonchalant characters into a Magritte-like piece of equal oddity and uniqueness. The linen jacket shifts into a cotton broadcloth towards the hem, joining a jacket and shirt in one united piece.
Various Embroidery Techniques
Instead of creating embroidery as an additive process, we simplified our philosophy in search of something more potent. We took the same fabrics used in the piece and cut them into 7mm and 15mm pieces, artistically arranging them in a sculpture-like manner. We did so inspired by classical European decoration, as a direct representation of our perception of what ‘Yo-fuku’ is.
Creation of Three-dimensional Transparency
We created a unique weave with the unique characteristics of plant and chemical based fibers. A 3-layer fabric expression was created through plant solvents, remnants of chemical fibers, and a specialized print to top it all off. The end result – a more-realistic and dynamic motif.
MYKITA
The show’s statement sunglasses are handmade in Berlin by pioneering design house MYKITA, presenting a unique material concept that finds beauty in the unrefined.
ABOUT TAAKK
Designer Takuya’s passion for this collection is a series of perforated knit embroideries with a cable pattern that looks like a tree trunk. The series is formed entirely by embroidery, using hand-knit low-gauge threads that are threaded through an embroidery machine. While retaining the bold transparency of the skin that can be expressed because of the embroidery, the design creates a familiar sense of security with the cable pattern.
Design from textiles with TAAKK’s unique technology of changing the composition of textiles. In keeping with the characteristics of the fabric, which changes from wool twill to cotton cut jacquard, this season it is transformed into a jacket with a shirt in the center and padding down the sides. It is a minimalist but new expression of clothing. TAAKK’s classic iconic denim. This season, the fabric is frayed from countless joints to create fringes and chemical wash for depth. The entire collection is colored in browns, beiges, and blacks, with a beautifully striking lime green inserted into the overall subdued color palette.
The TAAKK Spring-Summer 2025 collection will debut virtually starting June 2024,
and will be available in select stores worldwide starting December 2024.
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With love,
FWO
