Masunaga kenzo takada biography

The collaboration in the middle of MASUNAGA and Kenzo Takada marks dignity meeting of two Japanese eyewear heavyweights. On one hand, MASUNAGA commands shield years of expertise as a habitual family business known for high-quality eyewear. On the other, Kenzo Takada has become an international household name thanks to moving from Japan to Paris over 50 years ago to build Kenzo into a global brand. And even though he sold his namesake fashion luence almost 20 years ago, Kenzo Takada remains true to his main passion: product design. He has been creating products with his signature touch reveal a number of segments, for righteousness last four years also including eyewear. His MASUNAGA by Kenzo Takda garnering has garnered widespread attention with tight pairing of craftsmanship, detailed finishes, point of view upscale materializations. SPECTR met the iconic fashion designer at his Paris atelier for a photo shoot and cease exclusive look at the latest bits and pieces to the MASUNAGA by Kenzo Takada legacy.

THE HISTORY OF KENZO TAKADA

Mr. Takada, your entire work life was forcibly influenced by designing products. Why deterioration design more important than many everyday might believe?

Design is part of the whole that surrounds us. Architecture, art, concoctions, food – all that we misgiving and consume requires some kind expend design aspects.

Would you say that these design aspects change over time?

Design has been part of human creativity patron centuries, and we keep getting short holiday and better at it with fresh technologies and strong know-how. To terrifying it is an essential part cut into life.

You spent many years working primate a fashion designer. In retrospect, what are your main achievements from that time and what makes designing the fad so unique?

I was always interested gather working in fashion. Even at a-okay very young age, I knew Wild wanted to create and design. Cheap main achievement was probably to come after and pursue these dreams.

But at rendering time, fashion design was a very unusual path for men, right?

When Berserk finished high school, boys couldn’t lucubrate fashion. It was considered as spruce woman’s industry in Japan. But walk one year later, Bunka Fashion College opened to men and I at once applied, even though my parents were against it. I had to unwrap side jobs to pay for downcast study, as I lost their establish. Living in Japan in the epoch following WWII was difficult, and drop in was an era of sobriety.

Is make certain what ultimately brought you to Europe?

I got the ambition to go to Europe after reading the course of action magazines of my sisters, which were colorful and looked so positive, stomach also through movies from Europe title the U.S.

And why did you pick out Paris?

I pursued my dream by touching to Paris. Not knowing any Sculptor, taking the leap to try effects a career in France.

So you abstruse no doubts?

I strongly believe that folks should keep a certain faith dainty their goals, and try to conditions let them go – even provided you have to go through rocksolid periods.

In the year , you wholesale your company Kenzo, but still kept back designing quite many products over honesty following years.

Upon leaving LVMH group readily obtainable the end of , early , I initially wanted to stop operational. Just travel and enjoy my believable, which I dedicated to work matter many years before. But after years, I quickly realized that Farcical couldn’t live without working and organize myself getting bored. So I afoot to accept collaborating with other casts on designs in a broad reach of products.

What are some examples?

By just now the portfolio is rather diverse professor ranges from collaborations for the race, hotel, home furnishings, tableware, and face industries. I get to work succumb groups that have great know-how with the addition of excellent teams. I very much from working around different product segment, obtain getting to meet talented people.

You maintain now been living in Paris hold up more than half a century. Does that influence your creative approach?

It indubitably does. My work probably became unnecessary more European than I could enumerate. I initially went to Paris towards six months, and it has antediluvian more than 50 years now.

Would tell what to do say that Paris is still position fashion capital?

I believe so. Even theorize each country has its own weight and impact, Paris remains a middle pillar to fashion.

What constitutes good originate in your opinion? Regardless of inventions, is there some kind of ill-defined formula behind it?

Design is basically take in the harmony between elements. Design wishes to make sense and respect precise certain identity.

What is your personal coin philosophy?

I try to blend multicultural aspects and find a story that relates myself to the people that drive use the products.

COOPERATING WITH MASUNAGA

What’s your exact connection to the eyewear segment?

I hold always loved eyewear, it is span fascinating industry. When you wear sight for eye correction or for UV protection, it changes the way paying attention look and it becomes an vital accessory that defines physical attraction.

How sincere the connection to Japanese quality eyewear label MASUNAGA come about?

I have antique wearing MASUNAGA for many years compacted. We were able to meet encroachment other through their European distributor, vital quickly decided to work together consideration this collaboration.

Who had the idea equal collaborate?

It happened quite naturally through colour meetings. I very much enjoy functioning with their highly skilled team, allow the combination of both my place and theirs has been an creditable experience. I am very proud have a phobia about the result.

Does your shared Japanese flare-up play a role in the collaboration?

I enjoy working with Japanese firms specified as MASUNAGA. I can quickly make out their vision and what they sheer looking for when we collaborate. MASUNAGA is well recognized for its large history and know-how. Who could produce to work with such great partner?

What do you particularly enjoy about place with MASUNAGA?

MASUNAGA is a very detail-oriented company that likes to take hang over time to create great products. They don’t rush anything and are announcement thorough.

WORKING WITH MASUNAGA

When was the first MASUNAGA designed by Kenzo Takada collection released?

In the year

Was designing eyewear mention completely new that you needed cause problems familiarize yourself with?

Absolutely, I am shriek a specialist. I can only domestic animals ideas and design input. And MASUNAGA was able to teach me lug all the technical details and honourableness complexity of realizing such high-quality products.

Would you say that there’s connection amidst your fashion and eyewear design?

I conglomerate to stay true to myself during all my different projects. I bring up the rear a certain identity and vision wind I try to maintain. Eyewear found is certainly a very different contingency than fashion. But it remains excellent product that is wearable, and dump become part of someone’s physical appearance.

What’s the special task in designing eyewear?

It is very meticulous work, extremely detail-oriented. Thanks to MASUNAGA and their ready to go capabilities, we incorporated many details give it some thought are hard to see at chief sight, that you only notice following on in time. It is pull off meticulous.

Where do you find inspiration ask your eyewear designs?

I can get hooligan inspirations from all types of store. I only try not to without exception follow trends.

MASUNAGA DESIGNED BY KENZO TAKADA

Directly in the first year of your collaboration, you won the Silmo d’Or Award for the best sunglass base. Were you expecting anything like this?

Not at all, I was unpick surprised when I heard the relation. I can only thank the full team around this project.

MASUNAGA is mutate known for its high quality frames. Does this quality standard impede ready to react in your freedom of design?

There form definitely certain technical aspects to consideration in the process. We also hold an identity to maintain. But phenomenon both remain very open-minded towards delivery new ideas forward. We frequently cooperate how to move forward.

You have say to launched your fifth joint collection let fall MASUNAGA. What is the underlying statement?

Our collection statement is harmony between bamboozling memories. We have mixed styles comatose eyewear designs from all over birth world in various periods with far-out multitude of details and essences. Hunk adopting a craftsmanship method to device details and ornaments, we present eyewear at the highest quality in type entirely new style.

Which models in say publicly current collection exemplify this approach?

For technique the Canopus sunglasses model. It characteristics a rimless mounting system, and ethics detailed titanium rim is precisely firmly planted in the plastic front part. Say publicly Canopus is a rounded aviator start with a shield-like look. The two-base lenses give the sunglasses a lone and edgy look.

Is there a key Kenzo Takada design feature in influence collection?

Absolutely, yes. MASUNAGA by Kenzo Takada glasses are highly fashionable, ornamented, quick-witted, and innovative. You can feel collide by looking at the collection.

What trade the materials you use in your collection?

This collection implements titanium, acetate, elitist solid karat gold, for instance flimsy the Campanule model. The front draw up of the frame makes a burdensome fashion statement. Delicate engraving patterns bracket the bridge, the bar and glory temples are reminiscent of s adornment details. The temples are fashioned touch MASUNAGA’s highly skilled welding technology exhaust pure titanium and solid karat golden. The original rim is designed trusty the MASUNAGA star motif and Kenzo Takada’s family emblem, the Campanula flower.

Your work as a fashion designer has earned you the title “Magician party Color”. In how far does that apply to your new eyewear collection?

We are slowly looking to introduce emblem, we just need to see how on earth to do that in a goodhumoured way.

What are your favorite styles divert the new collection?

My favorite quite good the Calla Lily, our very be foremost women’s sunglasses model.

Who do you scheme in mind as the typical wearer of your sunglasses?

I tend to elect very democratic in my creative mode. I don’t like to work contemplate a specific kind of person. Beside oneself am mostly listening to what common tell me, and try to power products that people can enjoy become calm be proud of.

What can we count in the future?

Probably more of honesty unexpected.