Supporting the heart of the Japanese Fashion World. KIJIMA TAKAYUKI’s skill and spirituality in creating the concept of an authentic hat

I kind of like myself wearing a hat because it was created for fashion, not function.
KIJIMA TAKAYUKI is a made-in-Tokyo hat brand that produces just such hats. They bring the universal pleasure of wearing hats to our heads, while lightly addressing issues related to the environment and labor.

An effortless attractiveness of KIJIMA TAKAYUKI

It was 1994 when designer Takayuki Kijima launched his own brand after completing an apprenticeship under Akio Hirata, Japan’s leading expert in haute couture hats.
From that hat brand, Kijima became independent in 2013, leading to the current KIJIMA TAKAYUKI.
　
In other words, KIJIMA TAKAYUKI is a long-established brand with a history of more than 30 years counting from its predecessor, but there may be a surprising number of people who have recently come to know KIJIMA TAKAYUKI through collaborations with fashion brands. For example, UNDERCOVER, Mame Kurogouchi, and ARTS&SCIENCE. It is no exaggeration to say that KIJIMA TAKAYUKI is the most popular hat brand in the fashion world today, judging from the trust that is placed in him by fashion designers who are very particular about their designs.
　
The reason why KIJIMA TAKAYUKI is loved by the fashion world can be attributed to its effortless elegance. What Kijima values in his designs are hats that are not complete on their own, but are complete with fashion. There are haute couture hats in the world that are beautiful on their own, such as elegant classic hats, but KIJIMA TAKAYUKI’s hats are not like that. They are the ultimate in naturalness, arrived at after thorough calculations. That is why they can be worn without hesitation and create a synergistic effect with a variety of clothes.
　
Another thing that makes KIJIMA TAKAYUKI’s hats so appealing is the comfort of wearing them, which is made possible by the high level of technology. Some of the hats are made by hand by craftsmen including Kijima at his atelier in Daikanyama. It is quite rare to find a fashion brand where the designer himself is actually involved in production. KIJIMA TAKAYUKI’s unique world view is created by fusing the spirit of haute couture hats, which is the foundation of the brand, with fashion.

answer It - Upcycling Embodies the Handicraft of the Future

Upcycling Embodies the Handicraft of the Future

KIJIMA TAKAYUKI has three lines: the seasonal collection “MAIN LINE,” “HIGHLINE,” and “answer It. Of the three, we are particularly interested in the “answer It” line. It is an upcycling project that embodies the handcraft of the future.
　
The special thing about “answer It,” which has launched in the fall of 2021, is that each hat will be one-of-a-kind and made by the hands of contemporary craftsmen. Kijima utilizes used hats and dead stock materials he has collected over the years, and breathes new life into them through modern interpretation. The airy quality of his work is perhaps due to the respect he pays to the personal and historical backgrounds of the materials he uses. It may be an answer to the excellent creations of the past, or perhaps it is an answer to the fashion we seek in the modern age.

Thinking about the future through hats

In addition to “answer It,” KIJIMA TAKAYUKI has set waste reduction and promotion of recycling as one of its corporate sustainability goals, which it practices on a daily basis. Specifically, KIJIMA TAKAYUKI selects eco-friendly raw materials and minimizes waste. The company’s local production is also part of its efforts to reduce the environmental impact caused by unnecessary transportation and mass production. Another feature that users appreciate is that KIJIMA TAKAYUKI offers maintenance and repair services to extend the life of their products and has built a system that allows customers to have a long-lasting relationship with a single hat.
　
And the sustainability that KIJIMA TAKAYUKI aims for is not limited to environmental aspects, but also extends to the working environment and social responsibility. For example, KIJIMA TAKAYUKI has introduced a flextime system and an open-door policy, and is actively involved in diversity promotion and harassment education, all of which demonstrate the company’s commitment to creating a sustainable work environment by creating a comfortable working environment for employees.
　
As seen in KIJIMA TAKAYUKI’s efforts, sustainability in fashion is not only about using eco-friendly materials. It means that the makers should continue to produce items that users can love for a long time. It can be said that this is an attempt to change the consumption style of fashion itself.
　
The KIJIMA TAKAYUKI brand seems to be full of positive charms that remind us of the future, not only in its products but also in the way the company is structured.

The pleasure of dressing up in the KIJIMA TAKAYUKI overhead

Hats are not necessary when it comes to fashion. When coordinating an outfit, it is usually hats and other accessories that are added or subtracted, and as a result, it is not uncommon for people to leave them at home, saying, “I’ve given up on that after all.” KIJIMA TAKAYUKI’s hats have attractions that make you think, “I have to have it after all.” It may not be a special design. However, it is a hat that is necessary for fashion, beyond functional reasons such as sun protection and warmth.
　
What KIJIMA TAKAYUKI delivers to our heads is such a simple pleasure of wearing a hat.
　
So tomorrow’s “Ittekkimasu” means I’m leaving will be with KIJIMA TAKAYUKI. Let’s go out in an exciting direction, wearing the perfect hat that matches your fashion.