TAKA ORIGINAL @ highsnobiety
by CHANGAKA
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TAKA ORIGINAL GOES BACK TO THE FUTURE WITH STREETWEAR INSPIRED BY OLD-SCHOOL TECH
Press by:https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/taka-utr/

Pursuing his passion for street culture, Aka quit his job in the record industry to launch TAKA Original in 2019. The streetwear label has team members operating in New York, Paris, Tokyo, Beijing, and Guangzhou, with Aka describing TAKA as simply "Earth-based." And when you think about how streetwear has gone global in recent years, that makes perfect sense.
TAKA Original's SS19 drop taps into various contemporary trends while referencing the now-antiquated tech of the ’90s. Rendered in muted grays, electric purple, and flashes of neon, the collection features multi-pocketed tactical vests, hybrid cargo pants, hooded vests, PVC shorts, and graphic tees. A sad face motif that riffs on Microsoft's Windows 95 logo can be seen throughout.
The aesthetic is reflective of TAKA's previous collections, which channeled elements of merch, officewear, and cyberculture into streetwear in a way that somehow remained cohesive.



According to Aka, a great fashion brand "balances art and commerce," telling us he wants to create a "cultural exchange of fashionable youth from around the world through TAKA's products and styles."
In accordance with this global and communal approach, TAKA Original has launched a project that encourages young artists to collaborate with the brand, such as on the SS18 lookbook, which involved a 3D-generated office designed by digital artist Yi Le.
Now, with TAKA Original having launched its online store last year and new drops happening every month, expect the brand to expand its reach even further.