Once upon a time in Osaka, there lived a 28-year-old man named Takuya Sawada. In 1995, the great earthquake shattered more than the buildings in his city; it revealed to him the fragility of his surroundings. Takuya itched to preserve the fashion of Japan’s past – the kimono, haori, geta – in a spanking-new, ultra-modern form.

And so, the brand Takuya Angel was born. The cyber/rave clothes and accessories are a riot of anime neons and space age materials: PVC, cupra, gabardine, faux fur. But the self-taught Takuya incorporates pieces of antique kimonos and forms not seen since the days of the samurai. Like transforming robots, some of the pieces have dual functions, which Takuya describes as “one-stone-two-birds.”

With the help of his wife Akiko, the brand took off. Takuya Angel has been featured in Fruits and collaborates with the Tokyo Decadence club night (the designer often deejays at cyber/Gothic events). Takuya Angel has staged several wild fashion shows; here are photos from the ninth collection unveiling, which too place last May.

Takuya Angel now has two stores (in Tokyo and Nara) and sells through other stores in Paris. Here’s another reason to visit the Harajuku branch: DJ Sisen works there on Saturdays! For more photos of the fashion show, visit Qhoto.

Song of the Day #2: An Cafe – Maple Gunman