As he gradually grows into the CFCL men’s wear narrative, Yusuke Takahashi is finding new ways to offer a younger generation of consumers clothes that are practical, light, and a little more fun.
“We wanted to use color for its energy and optimism, to give him a subtle edge,” the designer explained in a video call from his offices in Tokyo.
He found inspiration in the Paimio Sanatorium, the 1933 masterpiece by the architects and designers Aino and Alvar Aalto, in southwestern Finland. Asymmetrical, with a pinwheel-style structure, the building relied on the quality and directionality of light as a functional tool, and color too—decades before color therapy went mainstream.
For spring, soft hues of lilac and pale yellow, combined with new knitting techniques, yielded a lighter result than previous outings. It was both visual and functional: the TC Shrink material uses two knit structures to yield transparent yet work-appropriate tops that subtly layer in color. The TC Milan series, made of 70% traceable, organic Indian cotton and 30% recycled polyester, offered jackets and cardigans that looked office-crisp yet were as light as a shirt and intended for easy layering, Takahashi explained. A collared blue cardigan jacket and a gray-tone blazer incorporated textural motifs, while some jackets—all business in front—were more transparent in back. “We’re trying to imitate wool fabrics but keep it washable,” the designer noted. “Also, not too street.”
CFCL’s recipe seems to be working: the brand plans to open in Korea next year, Bangkok is on their radar, and so is Le Bon Marché in Paris. Come September, the brand will publish its first book, with Rizzoli International, to illustrate its philosophy, approach to design, and evolving vision of clothing. Impressive for a brand that only just recently celebrated its fifth anniversary.
