Imagine a future where the weather has turned too hot and AI technology has become the norm, said Yusuke Takahashi ahead of CFCL’s spring collection.
With his focus on knitwear, he’s no stranger to the latter, or at least to machine-assisted creation and feels that humans aren’t going to be replaced quite so soon when it comes to creativity. Regarding the former, the warmest times saw him forgo a morning jog and in some cases any attempt at formal dressing. “Given the way the climate is going, we are going to have to give summer clothes some real thought,” he said.
Dire as things are, Takahashi is no doomsayer, a strong believer that “humans will be able to [devise] more comfortable ways of living,” like, say, Saudi Arabia’s Neom urban project or in his case, offering a lineup rife with lightweight layers and gauzy textures.
If the idea of everything knit sounds like a casual-only affair, the CFCL playbook showed it wasn’t so. In no particular order, roomy blousons, trousers with a kicky ruffle hem and long sundresses with and without sleeves. Owing to their knit material, the designs felt flattering on a range of body shapes and looked comfortable.
Though these felt like staple-adjacent shapes, contrast was introduced through the various stitches used, creating stripes, fluff or even gradual transparency that turned one voluminous gown from monastic to fantastic.
Metallic yarn was the symbol of his forward gaze, bringing shimmer or shine depending on yarn gauge. Whether skin is skimmed or revealed was another sign. The designer said that was up to each wearer, with divides such as male or female no longer really relevant — now or in the future.
