Halfway through exploring CFCL’s extensive spring collection by Tokyo-based designer Yusuke Takahashi, 37, I snapped a video on my 3-year-old daughter’s iPhone. A preschooler wearing a mini version of the pale pink and yellow “Pottery” knit dress showed up at a recent CFCL pop-up store event with her favorite items from the collection. , one by one, explaining why she loves them. (The label, an acronym for “Clothes for Modern Living,” is only two years old, but Takahashi already has children’s clothing.) That’s another reason why it’s so important.”
Takahashi’s diminutive protégé was not only adorable, but he became an attractive salesman for the brand, which quickly established his identity and mission. Based on the designer’s belief that good clothing should be for everyone, CFCL’s recycled polyester products are made for people of all ages, genders and body types. Takahashi is also committed to the principles of sustainable development. In July 2022, CFCL achieved Company B status with a score of 128. Impressive given that the average score of the public companies that have been assessed now stands at 50.9. The only other fashion brand featured at PFW that is B Corp certified is Chloé with an overall score of 85.2 as of October 2021.
The company’s status as a B Corp is also due in part to Takahashi’s commitment to 3D computerized knitting, which produces seamless garments and eliminates waste. But it is also due to his rigorous cooperation with many suppliers in the Tohoku, Hokuriku and Kanto regions of Japan, which he knows from his experience in menswear design during his years at Miyake. His willingness to try everything from switching to renewable energy to reducing water use is commendable. This is well documented on the CFCL website.
For the fifth spring collection, Takahashi wanted to avoid cocoon silhouettes and flashy colors and focus on elegance. “Knitwear has always been casual and hasn’t been used for suits or evening dresses. He wanted to smoke, but he wanted to combine comfort with elegant evening wear.” navy blue lining, pleats sewn in cupro. They fit perfectly, as do the pants made from a recycled polyester blend. The futuristic aesthetic of Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. Fitted and flared dresses are reinvented with sheer knit for a dry touch that can be worn over wide-leg pants and skirts. A slim flared peplum cardigan was paired with flared pants. Also popular among the accessories was the woven bag worn as a bracelet, restyled for spring in cobalt blue and bubblegum pink.
Takahashi opened his brand’s first store in Tokyo in October and plans to open a second store next year and hopes to expand to Paris. “People love our clothes because they are made for city life,” said Takahashi. “There aren’t many brands that are wrinkle-free, dry quickly, easy to wash and maintain, and focus on functionality rather than just elegance. But that’s just the beginning.”
