Heavy-Duty Ivy: A Rauschenberg-Inspired Narrative.
For the Engineered Garments Fall/Winter 2023 collection—rooted in classic American "heavy-duty ivy"—Manabu Gaku Inada developed a series of textile artworks, including large-format bandanas and hoodies. Drawing inspiration from Robert Rauschenberg's collage-driven language,
Gaku reinterpreted urban grit, wildlife, and nostalgic outdoor motifs through a contemporary pop-art lens. Beyond their functional use, the designs serve as a mixed-media exploration; Inada utilized a tactile blend of hand-carved block prints, graffiti-style stencils, and hand-drawn illustrations to bridge the gap between metropolitan life and the wilderness.
Brand: Nepenthes America, Engineered Garments
Artist: Manabu Gaku Inada
Year: 2023
For the Engineered Garments Fall/Winter 2023 collection—rooted in classic American "heavy-duty ivy"—Manabu Gaku Inada developed a series of textile artworks, including large-format bandanas and hoodies. Drawing inspiration from Robert Rauschenberg's collage-driven language,
Gaku reinterpreted urban grit, wildlife, and nostalgic outdoor motifs through a contemporary pop-art lens. Beyond their functional use, the designs serve as a mixed-media exploration; Inada utilized a tactile blend of hand-carved block prints, graffiti-style stencils, and hand-drawn illustrations to bridge the gap between metropolitan life and the wilderness.
Brand: Nepenthes America, Engineered Garments
Artist: Manabu Gaku Inada
Year: 2023
Outdoor/NYC Collage Print Big Bandana. 26.5” x 26.5”
The original wildlife motifs were meticulously hand-carved using Battleship Gray Linoleum. This choice of medium allowed Gaku to achieve a raw, bold texture that serves as the tactile foundation for the entire print series.
Elevating urban aesthetics by integrating graffiti-style spray techniques with tactile collage materials and hand-printed elements.
Prior to the digital layout, a tactile physical mockup was meticulously constructed using printed fragments to refine the composition and scale.
Inspired by the cover of a nostalgic outdoor guidebook. 21" x 21”
Embedded within the intricate layers of the design is a hidden narrative; this time, a fox lies concealed within the forest motifs, waiting to be discovered.
