How do the cultural concepts of Takumi, Wabi-Sabi, and Kawaii shape Japanese fashion?
This bachelor’s thesis was written as part of the Bachelor’s program in Japanese Studies at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich. It investigates how culturally specific aesthetic concepts function beyond traditional contexts and become operative within modern, institutionalized fashion systems.
Focusing on Takumi, Wabi-Sabi, and Kawaii, the thesis examines how ideas of craftsmanship, imperfection, and affect are translated into fashion design, visual identity, and branding. Through visual analysis and selected case studies—particularly Rei Kawakubo (Comme des Garçons) and Yohji Yamamoto—the work explores how these concepts contribute to the formation of identity and to the global appeal of Japanese fashion.
Abstract
This thesis analyzes how culturally embedded aesthetic concepts shape the identity of Japanese fashion within contemporary global contexts. By examining Takumi, Wabi-Sabi, and Kawaii, the study explores how these ideas are visually translated into design practices and institutionalized fashion systems. Using visual analysis and case studies, the thesis highlights how these concepts contribute to both cultural specificity and international reception.