The Bright Future of TAAKK

Takuya Morikawa, who founded Taakk in 2013 after eight years at Issey Miyake, defines his brand as “unrealistic reality”. From the beginning, he has worked on rewriting the codes of a masculine wardrobe, developing new shapes through his multidisciplinary approach to design and fabric innovation.

How do you define the future?

I believe the future is something bright. There will be even more difficulties in the upcoming era. However, I believe that it is a role of a designer to believe in and be attached to a bright future.

Can you be a designer without thinking about the future?

I do not think you can. I believe that designing is making the future.

What does the future’s aesthetic look like, to you?

In the future, as well as in the present, we give excitement and fulfil desires of those who like clothes, and this means designing fashion. I do not think that this sensibility will change in the future.

How did 2020 change your outlook for the future?

Things without purpose are unnecessary, and we must question whom the purpose is addressed to. We should question and face ourselves every day, neatly seeking the right answers. I believe repeating this practice will build the outlook for the future.

Why is the future such an important element of fashion?

Fashion is essential for mankind. Men’s emotion influences fashion and fashion influences men’s emotion. Fashion and mankind influence each other. This will not change in the future, and therefore fashion is essential in the future.

How do you imagine fashion changing in ten years?

Perhaps changes in technology will lead to a big shift. But I wish the fact of fashion being essential will not change.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I genuinely think I will still be making clothes.

What is one thing we can start doing now that could positively impact our future?

Do not produce unnecessary things. Do not imitate others. Keep these principles.

What concerns you about the future?

Lack of material and human resources.

What excites you about the future?

The fact that the possibilities are infinite — and I want to spend my life building these possibilities.

Your wish for the future?

I wish happiness to all the people around me.

What about fashion will remain constant: what is permanent across past, present, and future?

Fashion directly influences man’s emotions — in the past and at present, and will remain unchanged. I believe this is the power of fashion.

This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.