Kento Takayama NYFW October 2022

I had the pleasure of interviewing fashion designer Kento Takayama as he presented his 2022 NYFW show. All photos are mine!

JM: Why do the show in downtown Brooklyn?

KENTO: I met someone who took me here. I was sitting down there and I see my reflections [from] when I was young, which is my past and now I am here in New York. And I always wanted to be a haute couture designer. And that’s why I thought, let me start what I want to do. Let me do it. 

As you can see all of the pockets, the structure itself is made out of...it is a very Japanese and Filipino instinct with Western styling. The pockets on the shoulder, that is my representation of the buildings of Manhattan. It’s the blocks of Manhattan. It’s not the regular one, but it’s something that you can see that it’s powerful. It’s soft, it’s minimal, but it's still  powerful. It gives you something that you can feel this is it you know? You need to trust and love whatever you do.

JM: What is it about New York that you want to put it in your artwork? Your clothes? What is it  about the city?

KENTO:  I came for the first time in 2017. At the time I was still in denial of my sexuality, because that’s what happens, you know? For us, when we were young, we tried to find ourselves and New York City made me feel who I am right now. It takes me a long time, but now that I am ready I wanted to showcase [how] the time that I stepped out of JFK, that I felt something so welcoming in this city. And I was like this is it. This is the place I should be.  This is the place where I see myself.  I’ve always had visions here since I was young. I always see myself doing something [here]. I may not be knowledgeable enough [in the fashion industry] but I always try to find my own way.  New York City made me feel that way. New York City made me feel that... you can do whatever you want here , truly! 

JM: As a creator, that is very public online, you vlog, you have made some of these pieces that we see here online, how do you balance between letting people know what you’re doing and keeping somethings to yourself?

KENTO: Sometimes it’s hard, actually. You can get very emotional more likely since we just got out of COVID. We get depressed. But I feel like it’s all about having people that listen to you. Having people that tell you you’re doing great.  Just keep doing what you want to do.