PROFILE
Born in 1981 in Kochi , Japan. Studied under stylist Yuta Kaji. He has styled for fashion magazines, brand catalogs, TV commercials, and musicians. In recent years, he has been in charge of visual production for "New Balance" and "MET24," and his styling delves deeply into the appeal of the brands.
It's a symbolic color, yet it fits everyone. I like the concept of contradiction in a good way.
When was the first time you wore "New Balance" shoes?
Takesaki:. I was in junior high school. I was reading "COOL TRANS" and "BOON" magazines, and the "576" was being featured at the time. So I bought a pair in burgundy leather and wore them a lot in high school.
Takesaki:After that, I didn't wear them for a long time, but when I became an adult, I was given a pair of "New Balance" sneakers for work. When I tried them on, they were just so comfortable. Our work requires us to be constantly on the move, and I realized once again that I never get tired when wearing "New Balance" sneakers.
So that's how you started wearing them so often.
Takesaki:. yes, I did. I first bought and wore the 990 v3 in navy. . That's when I started working with "New Balance" on a regular basis. Personally, I also like the "991.5" and wear them often.
What is your impression of the "New Balance" brand?
Takesaki:Gray" is the color of choice. Although it is a symbolic color for a brand and the most important color, it is generally a neutral color that fits everyone. There is no other brand that symbolizes the color gray.
Takesaki:I like light gray, especially in the summer when I often wear white bottoms, so I often wear brightly colored shoes to match them.
But on the other hand, you have bluish gray.
Steel blue. It's a steel-like color.
Takesaki:Oh yeah . I think that cool gray is also cool. Gray is a neutral color, which is why it can be dyed into various images depending on the color of the parts used.
All of "New Balance's" shoes have excellent coloring, don't they?
Takesaki:I think it's really exquisite. And it's gray, so it blends in really well.
Takesaki:Also, I have the impression that "New Balance" has a very urban image. I have the impression that people in urban areas wear them. In the countryside, people get around by car, but in the city, people take the train and walk everywhere else. So, in that sense, the gray color and ease of walking of "New Balance" make sense. The company's history began with the production of orthopedic shoes.
There are a number of theories as to how the gray color of "New Balance" came about, but one of them is that it was adopted to match the asphalt so that it would fit in well with running on the streets of Boston.
Takesaki:So you were right. So my image was correct.
Also, for me, it is a brand that has a new sense of what it means to have learned from the past. I have the impression that they value the history of the brand, and based on that history, they have adapted the materials and silhouettes to fit the modern age. For example, there are various versions of the "990," and while they inherit the designs of the past, they are constantly being updated with each new version. I like that approach.
. You have a solid foundation, and you have modified it in a modern way while respecting the foundation.
Takesaki:While introducing new models, the attitude of respecting the original is cool. I have the impression that many of the celebrities who wear the shoes are also casually stylish, rather than being "spiffy.
