"Bridging The Past and Future" – What Does TANAKA Consider to be Long-Lasting, Beloved Clothing?

In 2017, Sayori Tanaka founded TANAKA in New York under the brand concept of "clothing that bridges the past 100 years with the next 100 years." Being both the designer and founder, Sayori incorporates environmentally conscious manufacturing and traditional Japanese techniques, aiming for a balance between design and sustainability. We asked her about what the brand believes to be long-lasting, beloved attire.

Inevitable Brand Launch Based in New York

Sayori Tanaka developed an interest in clothing under the influence of her father, a Western-style painter and kimono textile designer. She shared with us how she first became attracted to clothes.
 
"My father's studio was in a separate building at our home. There were many picture books of paintings and textile-related materials, and as I looked at them, I vaguely started having an interest in art and fashion, and I've come to love clothes from the time I was aware of them."
 
She was greatly influenced by being born in the rich nature of Niigata and her grandfather being a landscape gardener.
 
"My family's garden was full of large stones and plants used in Japanese gardens because of my grandfather's occupation. What I cultivated by experiencing the colors of the sky in Niigata, the richness of nature and the seasons, was the belief that nothing surpasses the beauty of nature."
 
When she was in high school, it was the heyday of streetwear brands represented by Urahara, and while being influenced by them, she was also inspired by the depth of vintage clothes. During her time at a fashion college, she began to pay attention to not only domestic designer brands but also European designers.