SS22 Bandana Design: Global Rhythms and New York Heritage
Inspired by 1980s ethnic soundscapes and the iconic Safari-themed fashion movements, this collection bridges African artistry with New York’s rich textile history from the late 30s to the 40s. Gaku’s designs translate these diverse cultural threads into a modern graphic language. A deliberate focus was placed on achieving a "blurred and uneven" print finish, a technical choice designed to instill each piece with the soulful, weathered atmosphere of American vintage archival fabrics.
Brand: Nepenthes America, Engineered Garments
Artist: Manabu Gaku Inada
Year: 2022
Inspired by 1980s ethnic soundscapes and the iconic Safari-themed fashion movements, this collection bridges African artistry with New York’s rich textile history from the late 30s to the 40s. Gaku’s designs translate these diverse cultural threads into a modern graphic language. A deliberate focus was placed on achieving a "blurred and uneven" print finish, a technical choice designed to instill each piece with the soulful, weathered atmosphere of American vintage archival fabrics.
Brand: Nepenthes America, Engineered Garments
Artist: Manabu Gaku Inada
Year: 2022
African Botany in Print: The SS22 Floral Layout
Gaku meticulously laid out a selection of African flora—Agapanthus, Gladiolus, and Ornithogalum thyrsoides—across the bandana’s surface. This integration of native botanical motifs reinforces the collection’s core Safari theme, blending scientific observation with the artistic flair of 1940s New York textile design. The result is a sophisticated graphic that bridges continental heritage with urban functionality.
Gaku meticulously laid out a selection of African flora—Agapanthus, Gladiolus, and Ornithogalum thyrsoides—across the bandana’s surface. This integration of native botanical motifs reinforces the collection’s core Safari theme, blending scientific observation with the artistic flair of 1940s New York textile design. The result is a sophisticated graphic that bridges continental heritage with urban functionality.
Harnessing Imperfection: The Art of Diluted Ink
The water-based ink was deliberately thinned to achieve a raw, transparent texture. This calculated dilution allows the natural grain of the fabric to breathe through the print, creating an evocative, "dry" finish that mimics the sun-bleached character of authentic American vintage textiles.
The water-based ink was deliberately thinned to achieve a raw, transparent texture. This calculated dilution allows the natural grain of the fabric to breathe through the print, creating an evocative, "dry" finish that mimics the sun-bleached character of authentic American vintage textiles.
Archival Synthesis: The Safari Tapestry
These bandanas serve as a curated reconstruction of the SS22 visual world, utilizing unused animal sketches and geometric frames to form a complex, layered composition. The resulting aesthetic captures a distinct sense of nostalgia—evoking the arid, atmospheric grit of 80s global music and the era's signature travel-inspired style.
These bandanas serve as a curated reconstruction of the SS22 visual world, utilizing unused animal sketches and geometric frames to form a complex, layered composition. The resulting aesthetic captures a distinct sense of nostalgia—evoking the arid, atmospheric grit of 80s global music and the era's signature travel-inspired style.
Engineering the Imperfect
A final look at the making of the geometric woodblocks. By embracing the natural grain and human touch, these patterns transcend mere decoration to become a tactile record of the creative process—a defining signature of the SS22 collection’s enduring grit and soul.
A final look at the making of the geometric woodblocks. By embracing the natural grain and human touch, these patterns transcend mere decoration to become a tactile record of the creative process—a defining signature of the SS22 collection’s enduring grit and soul.
