A Dialogue with the Eighties: The Roots of SS22
The Engineered Garments SS22 collection, inspired by the 1980s, resonates deeply with Gaku’s formative years in art school.
Discussing these prints with Daiki Suzuki evoked vivid memories of an era when world music—from the hypnotic rhythms of King Sunny Adé to the African-infused New Wave of Talking Heads and Stewart Copeland—redefined global culture.
Gaku’s first encounter with New York in the mid-80s, specifically the immersive "Travel & Safari" world of Banana Republic in Greenwich Village, left an indelible mark on his creative DNA. While the animal print was initially destined for a subtle T-shirt pocket, a creative pivot with Daiki moved it to the back, transforming it into a bold, defiant statement.
The Engineered Garments SS22 collection, inspired by the 1980s, resonates deeply with Gaku’s formative years in art school.
Discussing these prints with Daiki Suzuki evoked vivid memories of an era when world music—from the hypnotic rhythms of King Sunny Adé to the African-infused New Wave of Talking Heads and Stewart Copeland—redefined global culture.
Gaku’s first encounter with New York in the mid-80s, specifically the immersive "Travel & Safari" world of Banana Republic in Greenwich Village, left an indelible mark on his creative DNA. While the animal print was initially destined for a subtle T-shirt pocket, a creative pivot with Daiki moved it to the back, transforming it into a bold, defiant statement.
Brand: Nepenthes America, Engineered Garments
Artist: Manabu Gaku Inada
Year: 2022
Heritage Patterns: The Art of Woodblock Printing
This series features geometric patterns inspired by African folk art, reinterpreted through woodblock prints. Gaku uses this traditional technique to highlight the timeless beauty of these shapes, blending cultural heritage with the modern style of Engineered Garments.
This series features geometric patterns inspired by African folk art, reinterpreted through woodblock prints. Gaku uses this traditional technique to highlight the timeless beauty of these shapes, blending cultural heritage with the modern style of Engineered Garments.
Primal Majesty: The Woodblock Elephant Motif
This T-shirt features a large African bush elephant in a traditional woodblock style. The bold silhouette and natural ink textures reflect the rugged African landscape. By embracing these "imperfections," Gaku achieves an organic depth that aligns with the collection's 1980s safari-inspired aesthetic.
This T-shirt features a large African bush elephant in a traditional woodblock style. The bold silhouette and natural ink textures reflect the rugged African landscape. By embracing these "imperfections," Gaku achieves an organic depth that aligns with the collection's 1980s safari-inspired aesthetic.
The New Identity: Captured at Queensboro Plaza
The debut of the new hang tag design was showcased against the industrial backdrop of Queensboro Plaza in Long Island City. The weathered steel and elevated tracks reflect the design's utilitarian spirit, emphasizing the tag as a part of the city’s architectural essence.
The debut of the new hang tag design was showcased against the industrial backdrop of Queensboro Plaza in Long Island City. The weathered steel and elevated tracks reflect the design's utilitarian spirit, emphasizing the tag as a part of the city’s architectural essence.
Graphic Synthesis: The Giraffe Back Print
A standout piece of the season, this tee features a distinctive Kirin pattern on the back, anchored by a contrasting geometric breast pocket. This deliberate mix of primitive animal art and traditional folk patterns elevates the garment into a cohesive graphic statement, blending the raw energy of the savanna with the refined aesthetics of Engineered Garments.
A standout piece of the season, this tee features a distinctive Kirin pattern on the back, anchored by a contrasting geometric breast pocket. This deliberate mix of primitive animal art and traditional folk patterns elevates the garment into a cohesive graphic statement, blending the raw energy of the savanna with the refined aesthetics of Engineered Garments.
Defining the Form: Initial Giraffe Sketch
A primer on the SS22 creative process. Even in this early rough sketch, the giraffe’s distinctive posture and the overall spatial composition are firmly established. It reveals a clarity of intent that carried through from the first stroke of the pen to the final printed garment.
A primer on the SS22 creative process. Even in this early rough sketch, the giraffe’s distinctive posture and the overall spatial composition are firmly established. It reveals a clarity of intent that carried through from the first stroke of the pen to the final printed garment.
Achieving Visual Equilibrium: The Rhino & Oxpeckers
In the final pre-production phase, Gaku refined the rhino print by adding oxpeckers to the scene. This adjustment was made post-production to achieve a more dynamic equilibrium within the frame. The contrast between the massive silhouette of the rhino and the delicate forms of the birds exemplifies the meticulous attention to composition that defines the SS22 artworks.
In the final pre-production phase, Gaku refined the rhino print by adding oxpeckers to the scene. This adjustment was made post-production to achieve a more dynamic equilibrium within the frame. The contrast between the massive silhouette of the rhino and the delicate forms of the birds exemplifies the meticulous attention to composition that defines the SS22 artworks.
Scale and Soul
The original prints, modest in size, carry the soul of the collection. Through enlargement, their rough-hewn textures are brought to the forefront, lending the wild animals of the SS22 collection their distinctive, atmospheric grit.
The original prints, modest in size, carry the soul of the collection. Through enlargement, their rough-hewn textures are brought to the forefront, lending the wild animals of the SS22 collection their distinctive, atmospheric grit.
