TAAKK Spring-Summer 2025 Runway Show in Paris
Date : Jun 23rd 2024
Venue : Palais de Tokyo
Creative Director : Takuya Morikawa
Styling : Elena Psalti (Shotview)
Casting : WhiteCasting (Shotview)
Show Director : Takashiro Saito (KuRoKo Inc.)
Sound Director : Setsuya Kurotaki
Hair & Make-Up : Teruaki Shinjo (Shiseido)
Lighting : Michinari Marui (Toio)
Production Lead : Kazuna Miyata (KuRoKo Inc.)
Production : Julien Lacroix / TWOTWENTY
Fashion Assistant : Ece Acarr / Chloe Dumesny
Filmed by : Toyohiro Nakamura
Photo : Ko Tsuchiya
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Themed ‘Yo-fuku’
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.
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’