Takada Kenzo (1939-2020) was one of the first Japanese fashion designers to become established in Paris, where his highly original ideas resulted in the successive creation of countless looks that redefined fashion. After moving to France on his own, Takada established his eponymous brand in Paris in 1970 and soon began attracting attention, earning the title “poet of cotton” for his innovative use of this inexpensive material. He continued to focus on liberating the human form clothing, and went on to design loose, dart-free garments or garments featuring straight-cut kimono sleeves, while he was referred to as “the magician of colours” for the unique way he combined colours and patterns, resulting in numerous works which encapsulated his Japanese sensibility. Takada’s designs effortlessly transcended national boundaries, culture and gender to suggest a new style of clothing that was not dictated by the existing Eurocentric cultural tradition. Even today, his designs are still loved the world over.
This exhibition is the first large-scale solo exhibition since Takada Kenzo’s tragic death in 2020 and will showcase his garments to reveal how Takada’s designs changed over the years. Also included in the exhibition are his paintings which he first began creating as a young child, the reference materials which inspired his ideas, as well as his fashion design sketches. Through this format, the designer’s career will be presented from a number of different perspectives to enable visitors to reflect on the lifelong creative career of Takada Kenzo, the pioneering Japanese designer who made the world his stage.