Cars and Clothing: Five Selections on Creation and Design by Fashion Designer Seiichi Kaga
Cars and Clothes: A Creative Dialogue in Design
Five Picks from the Tokyo Motor Show – A Fashion Designer's Perspective
Design is now one of the most crucial factors within the automotive product.
How do fashion designers view car design?
We visited the 40th Tokyo Motor Show, which opened to the public on October 27th,
with fashion designer Seiichi Kaga, touring the various manufacturer booths.
Text by Masahiro Ariyoshi (This publication)
A Motor Show After 20 Years
"It's been about 20 years since I last came to a motor show. The previous one was held in Harumi,"
says Seiichi Kaga with palpable excitement at the entrance to Makuhari Messe. Kaga is a fashion designer highly acclaimed both domestically and internationally for his original designs.
Kaga's automotive journey began with Mazda's rotary-engine model, the Cosmo Sport, followed by an original Mini, an open-cockpit sports car like the Lotus Super Seven (which he broke in for a friend who had just gotten their license), and a Citroën XM with hydro-pneumatic suspension – a collection of distinctive vehicles.
So, you're quite the car enthusiast?
"I've always liked cars, but the first new car I bought with my own intention was a Mercedes-Benz C-Class about three years ago. Before that, I just happened to be driving used cars I acquired," he explains.
Why the Mercedes-Benz for your first new car?
"Isn't it one of the world's oldest automobile manufacturers? I wanted to experience a car from a marque with such a long history and discover what's embedded within it."
He draws inspiration from cars to create clothing.
The design-conscious Audi TT Coupé
also influenced him.
We began touring the booths from one end of the vast venue. While a certain domestic luxury brand didn't quite capture his interest, Kaga's steps halted at the Audi booth.
"Audi is cool, isn't it!" he exclaimed, eyes sparkling, as he settled into the 16.7 million yen supercar, the R8. Gripping the steering wheel and reaching for the dashboard and shift lever, his expression was serious, yet, forgive the observation, it also resembled a child engrossed in playing with a toy.
Next to it stood the current generation (second generation) of the Audi TT Coupé, adorned with a novel design praised as Bauhaus-inspired.
"Sometimes, when I'm designing clothes, I get ideas from cars. For instance, seeing the TT, with its rounded wheel arches incorporated throughout, I once designed a garment inspired by the roundness of buttons," he shared, his demeanor shifting to that of a designer.
As a fashion designer, how do you perceive car design?
"I'm interested in design that adheres to certain rules or constraints. For example, while a two-door car might offer more design freedom, the challenge of creating a form within the condition of having four doors reveals more about the maker's skill. I believe it's the same with clothing design."
Observing carefully, experiencing firsthand, and exploring the hidden secrets within – what I felt while touring the booths with Kaga was a deep affection for cars and a strong consciousness as a creator.
Perhaps, in the realm of creation called design, there is no fundamental difference between clothing and cars.
Seiichi Kaga's Top 5 Picks from the Tokyo Motor Show
1/5 Porsche Remains Porsche
Porsche 911 GT2
Porsche is a car I've admired since I was young.
When I first saw this shape years ago, my impression was simply 'the tires are big!' Yet, decades later, Porsche remains Porsche. To still feel its newness is truly remarkable.
It's the same with clothing; it's incredibly difficult to introduce novelty while preserving a certain form.
2/5 Armani's Attire
Audi R8
While it's apparently related to Lamborghini's Gallardo under Audi's umbrella, if Lamborghini is like avant-garde attire worn by models on a fashion show runway, then the Audi is akin to Armani clothing readily wearable on the street. It possesses a completeness as a product that suits anyone who drives it. I would choose the Audi.
3/5 A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG
As I own a C-Class myself, I'm impressed by how they've managed to fit a large 6.3-liter V8 engine into a body of only about 4.5 meters in length. With 457 horsepower, 0-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds, and a top speed of 250 km/h, it boasts high performance yet has a compact exterior and understated design. Truly, a wolf in sheep's clothing.
I resonate with the stance of Mercedes-Benz, a venerable manufacturer, in continuing to release such extreme models.
4/5 Unwavering Authenticity
Citroën C6
Having previously owned an XM, I have an interest in Citroën. The C6, a big Citroën in the lineage of the XM, shows its distinctive character in various details. The design that tapers elegantly towards the rear is a prime example. Like Porsche, it possesses 'the unchanging within the newness.'
5/5 I Want It!
Lotus Elise SC
Oh, I really want this one!
Lotus, the lightweight sports car, has always been a dream. Perhaps after my current car (Mercedes-Benz C-Class), something like this would be nice... but my wife would absolutely object. She'd say, 'This cramped interior! It's so inconvenient to get in and out!' (laughs).
A compact body with a spartan design. It feels cohesive and lacks ostentation. It's a car I'd love to drive someday.
Profile
Seiichi Kaga
Born in Tokyo in 1950. As a fashion designer, he currently handles designs for various apparel brands, including the casual wear line 'PATRICK BY TASUKI'.
Incidentally, his wife is a former select shop manager, his son is involved in product design at an electronics manufacturer, and his daughter is studying design at university. They are a fashionable and design-conscious family.
