![]() Moreover, although the references between collections have commonalities, such as Jun’s affinity for music and art, they could not be farther apart. Through the connections established from these ventures and the experiences gained from business and creative-driven projects, it is no wonder that Jun Takahashi was able to propel Undercover to such newfound heights.Īfter making his debut appearance at Paris Fashion Week in 2002, Jun Takahashi began to evolve past his undeniable love for the punk aesthetic and search for more nuanced references and themes for Undercover’s future collections. From their first store to their Last Orgy segments and even their TV series, Takahashi and NIGO culminated in a well-rounded assortment of business ventures that both capitalized off and grew the fashion scene in Tokyo, not mention also strengthening the rise of streetwear worldwide. Ten issues later, the duo opens their first brick and mortar store dedicated to clothes and culture: NOWHERE. In 1993, Jun Takahashi and NIGO rose to the challenge and became the new faces behind Japanese magazine Takarajima’s ‘Last Orgy’ segment, created by Hiroshi Fujiwara and Kan Takagi of Japanese Hip-Hop duo ‘Tiny Panx.’ Initially, a segment dedicated to showcasing new products of the time and refining youthful taste, Takahashi and NIGO enhanced Last Orgy to the next level, setting the foundation for what would later be known as the Urahara Movement. Although the skills he had gained through the Bunka Fashion College proved to be of immense value in the years to come, Takahashi’s more dormant qualities became fully realized through his involvement with punk rock, unrivaled admiration for Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garcons, and in particular his friendships with Hiroshi Fujiwara and NIGO of A Bathing Ape. After graduating high school, Takahashi transitioned into studying at the world-renowned Bunka Fashion College, where he would hone his technical skills and create his now-infamous brand Undercover. Jun Takahashi was born in 1969 in the desolate city of Kiryu, Gunma, and already drawn towards the intricacies of clothing from a very young age. However, to delve deeper into the brand’s real roots and philosophy, one would first need to delve into its founder: Jun Takahashi. From its diverse portfolio of collections and inspirations to the various sub-labels such as GYAKUSOU and MAD Store, the all-encompassing brand has never ceased to capture the hearts and souls of the generations of tomorrow. Nevertheless, Undercover has proven to stand against the test of time since its inception in the early 1990s. Everything was so positive so pretty soon I began to want to see if I could get people outside of Tokyo to wear my clothes.The sheer influence of Japanese brand Undercover is ever so instilled in the flood of modern-day designers that perhaps a short exploration into its groundbreaking accomplishments would be deemed as futile. None of the journalists in Tokyo criticized what I’d done and my friends liked it. But back then I never thought I’d sell outside of Japan. I visited Paris for the first time in 2001. Since you launched your brand Undercover 25 years ago, what has been the biggest change? Here, Takahashi explains talks about his inspiration, and more. While Miyashita’s fine tailoring and futuristic tech-wear drew inspiration from “The Day The World Went Away,” a song by Nine Inch Nails, Takahashi took his cue from Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey,” covering basics with references to HAL 9000, the film’s menacing robot. Neither saw the other’s output until they arrived in Florence two days before the Thursday night show. ![]() Although they agreed on a common theme, Takahashi and Miyashita kept their work secret from each other for months. ![]() Takahashi has collaborated with other designers before, notably last year at Tokyo Fashion Week with Chitose Abe of Sacai, but it was a first for Miyashita, who is famously reserved and rarely appears on the runway after shows to accept applause. This season, that was best embodied by two of Japan’s hottest design stars, Jun Takahashi of Undercover and Takahiro Miyashita of The Soloist, who staged a joint show. Pitti Uomo, the annual men’s wear trade show in Florence, Italy, has become a hub for conceptual fashion. ![]()
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