7/23/2023 0 Comments Undercover jun takahashi![]() ![]() Plus, the focus on far-out items clothing feels particularly pertinent right now: “It goes without saying, but obviously coronavirus has increased the amount of time we all spend at home,” Takahashi says. It’s freakish, tongue-in-cheek stuff – when Takahashi says mad, he means it. So when I spoke to the Undercover team, I wanted to try and replicate that experience online, giving our customers access to the brand, especially when most of us are unable to travel to Japan.”Īs well as collectables, you’ll find T-shirts, tote bags and hoodies emblazoned with Takahashi’s darkly surreal designs, including a three-eyed cat, a cycloptic flower-bearing apple and a leather pouch that resembles a freshly pulled pint of lager. Archer is an avid Undercover fan himself: “I got so excited finally being able to experience the store. “When I first went to Tokyo, one of the stores at the top of my list was the MADSTORE at Laforet in Harajuku,” says Mr George Archer, Senior Buyer for MR PORTER. In a first for the brand, MADSTORE merch is now available on MR PORTER as part of our new Super Mart collection, which means you no longer need to hop on a flight to Haneda airport to get your hands on it. “ expressing Undercover’s dark pop world through products that were more casual-minded, that are then able to reach more people,” Takahashi says. They exist apart from regular fashion seasons, providing a recognisable and, crucially, accessible entry-point to the in-demand brand. The items stocked there, iconic collectables such as the MediCom Gilapple lamps and clocks (in the rather convincing shape of a real apple, crafted from glossy PVC), take cues from Undercover’s rich archive. Conceived as a shop within a shop – it is housed within the Parco department store in Shibuya – stepping into the store feels a bit like entering Takahashi’s own private dream landscape. Originally opening in Tokyo in 2013 as a concept shop specialising in exclusive items, MADSTORE quickly gained fans overseas. ![]() “From there, I’ll go deep into that theme, and expand out the worldview and story of the idea in what I design.” “I start off by finding something that feels fresh and exciting to me, and then centring the idea for a collection around that,” he says of his creative process. Collections for Undercover have drawn on everything from prints of the 1922 film Nosferatu, to Ms Cindy Sherman’s photography, to Neon Genesis Evangelion, for which he most recently made padded jackets and light-up hoods inspired by the anime’s cyborg mecha suits. Riffing off an otaku-like obsession with pop culture in his work, Takahashi is a cultural kleptomaniac, taking a theme for each collection and running with it. Speaking to MR PORTER over email, the man behind the Tokyo-based brand Undercover is that increasingly rare example of a fashion designer who, decades into his career, is still working – successfully, no less – under his own name. Undercover was also one of the first brands to collaborate with artists such as Kaws and Futura.“I apologise if this comes across as egotistical, but I have never once tried to meet the expectations or requests of other people,” says Mr Jun Takahashi. Notable collaborations can be seen with Supreme, Off-White, Clockwork Orange, Nike and Bape. Takahashi and Undercover have won numerous awards and have been highly praised and coveted worldwide. Undercover collections exemplify the meaning of “Japanese cool” as they continue to push the envelope of strange yet modern everyday wear pieces. The brand captures both the essence of streetwear and high fashion while staying true to their punk American roots. Undercover’s motto is “We make noise, not clothes” and they continue to portray that message throughout their classic Undercover streetwear fashion. The brand pulls inspiration from Takahashi’s punk roots and American rock bands. Kawakubo was a big supporter of Takahashi and helped him bring the Undercover clothing brand into bigger markets outside of Japan. Prior to Undercover, Takahashi was in a tribute band called Tokyo Sex Pistols influenced by the British punk rock band “The Sex Pistols.” Takahashi also worked under Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garcons. Founded by iconic Japanese designer Jun Takahashi in 1990, Undercover is a label that captures the essence of both streetwear and high fashion.
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