Kijima Takayuki
// Design Collaborator & Material Adviser //
A singled out project from my four years leading the womenswear design and development for the luxury brand Karl Donoghue.
For this collaboration, I served as co-designer and material adviser, partnering with a renowned Japanese hat maker. Together we repurposed leather from our stock library, merging contemporary designs with artisan craftsmanship under the title:
”Joining Forces to Reduce Waste”
The Approach
Following our visit to the Kijima Takayuki workshop and showroom in Tokyo, I established a deep understanding of their aesthetic and a clear alignment with our collaborative vision.
Embracing the principle of “Joining Forces to Reduce Waste,” we partnered with the esteemed Japanese hat maker, to create a striking collection of modern silhouettes, including bucket hats, trucker caps, and baseball caps enhanced with shearling earflaps.
I selected colours and materials that echoed our shared design ethos, as well as exchanging sketches, mood boards, and material swatches to share my material knowledge.
By incorporating The Karl Donoghue archive skins, we emphasised our commitment to sustainable design and responsible manufacturing practices.
The result was a collection of unisex hats, beautifully crafted in luxurious materials by skilled artisans.
The Collection
This collaboration became a defining moment in my practice, evolving from a single collection into an ongoing creative exchange, leading to two further collaborations at the time of writing. The work explored how archived materials could be reimagined—extending their lifecycle while adding new value and meaning.
Inspired by our visit to the Kijima Takayuki Studio, I was influenced by the studio’s dynamic energy and passion for the craft. This experience pushed me to challenge conventional approaches to leather and shearling manufacturing, embracing experimentation and reinterpretation over tradition.
The collection was ultimately designed for an audience that appreciates craftsmanship, process, and the unique story embedded within each piece.