The Haunted Horizon:
The FW22 Bandana Series is a seasonal cornerstone of the Engineered Garments collection. The bandana series serves as a versatile canvas for artist Manabu Gaku Inada (Gaku) to explore the collection’s core themes. For FW22, Gaku draws from the stark, monochrome intensity of the film The Lighthouse. His artworks manifest as hazy, spectral seascapes—visualizing a tumultuous ocean shrouded in mist. These pieces transcend mere pattern, evoking a "haunted" maritime atmosphere that lingers between the threads of the fabric.
Brand: Nepenthes America, Engineered Garments
Artist: Manabu Gaku Inada
Year: 2022
The FW22 Bandana Series is a seasonal cornerstone of the Engineered Garments collection. The bandana series serves as a versatile canvas for artist Manabu Gaku Inada (Gaku) to explore the collection’s core themes. For FW22, Gaku draws from the stark, monochrome intensity of the film The Lighthouse. His artworks manifest as hazy, spectral seascapes—visualizing a tumultuous ocean shrouded in mist. These pieces transcend mere pattern, evoking a "haunted" maritime atmosphere that lingers between the threads of the fabric.
Brand: Nepenthes America, Engineered Garments
Artist: Manabu Gaku Inada
Year: 2022
Geometric Grit: The Discharge Seagull Print Drawing. Inspired by maritime camouflage, this bandana series explores the intersection of tactical patterns and storytelling. The discharge-dyed graphics feature seagulls in varied proportions, arranged in a non-linear, full-bleed composition. The "cut-off" effect of the larger motifs disrupts the visual field, adding a sophisticated, modern edge to the traditional accessory. Each fold of the bandana reveals a different chapter of Gaku’s maritime vision, emphasizing a restless, avant-garde spirit.
The Geometry of Wings: A seagull rendered in pencil, reimagined as a collection of sharp angles and crystalline shapes. This stylized representation captures the visceral energy of the coast, translating the chaos of nature into a disciplined, graphic narrative.
Seagull Printed Bandana: Made in NY, 100% Cotton 21"x 21"
The Geometry of Navigation: Taking 18th-century nautical charts as a visual anchor, Gaku blends complex, overlapping lines with constructivist nuances. By randomly scattering historical names of Northeastern U.S. capes and bathymetric depth markers, he subverts the chart’s functional origins. The result is a metaphor for abstract painting—a piece that appears as a navigational tool at first glance, yet reveals a mysterious, layered narrative of the sea’s untamed depths.
The Re-Inked Identity: Gaku reimagined the EG logo in a hand-drawn Serif font, utilizing a nib pen to evoke the timeless feel of maritime literature. A subtle yet powerful shift that aligns the brand’s visual identity with the season’s historic, sea-worn theme.
Nautical Printed Bandana: Made in NY, 100% Cotton 21"x 21"
Midnight Cartography: A bespoke Italian neckerchief in dark grey light wool, featuring a nautical chart printed in deep black. This tonal approach creates a mysterious, shadowy depth, translating the historical map into a modern, tactile accessory.
Light wool fabric Neckerchief. Approx 55 x 55 cm. Made in Italy.
Light wool fabric Neckerchief. Approx 55 x 55 cm. Made in Italy.
The Siren’s Abyss: A Tale of Maritime Superstition: This bandana elevates Gaku’s siren motif into a complex graphic study of maritime folklore. Beyond the central figure, the composition reveals a dark treasury of seafaring symbols: skeletal remains, predatory jaws, and the mythic Kraken in mid-assault. The inclusion of "Thursday" serves as a linguistic metaphor for the sea’s inherent danger, referencing historical superstitions. By framing these macabre elements with a whimsical, bubble-inspired border, Gaku achieves a sophisticated visual irony, capturing the duality of the deep sea—both beautiful and lethal.
Siren Printed Bandana: Made in NY, 100% Cotton 21"x 21"
Siren Printed Bandana: Made in NY, 100% Cotton 21"x 21"
Archival Imprints: The Evolution of the Maritime Motif: This photograph reveals Gaku's creative process, showcasing original pencil sketches of the Siren and various maritime symbols. Using a unique shading technique on thick paper, the artwork gains a tactile quality. The collection also includes unreleased studies that illustrate the aesthetic journey behind the FW22 collection's haunting visuals.
Sentinels of the Storm: A bandana chronicling the many faces of the lighthouse. From towering structures defying massive swells to solitary beacons shivering under thunderclouds or glowing in the moonlight. Each hand-drawn study by Gaku offers a fragmented yet powerful narrative of resilience amidst the shifting tides.
Light House Printed Bandana: Made in NY, 100% Cotton 21"x 21"
Light House Printed Bandana: Made in NY, 100% Cotton 21"x 21"
The Great Beacon: Gaku’s most iconic lighthouse, rendered in G-pen with the tactile depth of an 18th-century etching. A visual homage to the "fictional sea tales" of old, capturing the stoic beauty of a sentinel against the abyss.
The Night Sea: A Tonal Lighthouse Neckerchief This custom-made Italian neckerchief, rendered in a palette of dark navy and charcoal grey, features a subtle black lighthouse motif. The luxurious light wool possesses a faint, sophisticated luster, while the fabric's natural texture creates intricate wrinkles—a visual metaphor for the deep swells of a midnight ocean. Each fold of the fabric brings the lighthouse pattern in and out of shadow, mirroring the restless spirit of the sea.
Light wool fabric Neckerchief. Approx 55 x 55 cm. Made in Italy.
Light wool fabric Neckerchief. Approx 55 x 55 cm. Made in Italy.
