The Synthesis of Retrospective and Future: The FW24 Vision.
The late 1970s marked a pivotal VFX revolution, igniting a fusion of art and technology that redefined sci-fi cinema. By the 1980s, visual art and music had entered a radical new phase.
The Cyberpunk aesthetic—pioneered by Philip K. Dick and William Gibson—permeated literature, film, and the sonic landscapes of Post-Punk, New Wave, and Techno. Simultaneously, Hip Hop culture was erupting through the spontaneous alchemy of sampling and scratching, while a raw, underground skate culture took hold of the streets.
The late 1970s marked a pivotal VFX revolution, igniting a fusion of art and technology that redefined sci-fi cinema. By the 1980s, visual art and music had entered a radical new phase.
The Cyberpunk aesthetic—pioneered by Philip K. Dick and William Gibson—permeated literature, film, and the sonic landscapes of Post-Punk, New Wave, and Techno. Simultaneously, Hip Hop culture was erupting through the spontaneous alchemy of sampling and scratching, while a raw, underground skate culture took hold of the streets.
In developing the concept for the Fall/Winter 2024 Engineered Garments collection, Manabu “Gaku” Inada sought to distill this dense historical context into a contemporary silhouette. By merging these subversive subcultures with modern geometry, he has created a fresh visual language that honors the past while pushing the boundaries of current expression.
Brand: Nepenthes America, Engineered Garments
Artist: Manabu Gaku Inada
Year: 2024
Brand: Nepenthes America, Engineered Garments
Artist: Manabu Gaku Inada
Year: 2024
To capture a specific raw energy, I explored various tools—from the bold stroke of markers to the fine grit of pencils—intentionally varying the roughness of every line.
I pushed the dynamic contrast between typography and artwork to its limits, channeling the vibrant pulse and relentless hustle of metropolitan life into a powerful visual narrative.
Geometric precision: a hallmark icon designed with an 80s-inspired silhouette to serve as the visual anchor for the entire collection.
I deliberately pursued a raw, granular texture in the print, embracing imperfection to evoke a sense of analog authenticity.
Executed through an analog collage process, the lightning artwork was born from a tactile method of cutting and layering, resulting in a striking, three-dimensional presence.
