Hello.
This is Noguchi from CASANOVA&CO.
Before I knew it, September is already almost halfway over.
The store has taken on quite an autumnal feel.
Now all we can do is wait for the temperature to catch up.
Deliveries from various brands arrive daily, so I haven't been able to keep up with introducing them on the blog, but today, please allow me to introduce the Autumn/Winter season of KAKAN.
Not all of KAKAN's 25AW collection has been delivered yet, but you can see a wide range of items, from those that are quintessential KAKAN to powerful, impactful pieces.
Today, I'd like to focus on introducing two of those powerful pieces, but first, let me briefly introduce the KAKAN 25AW lineup that has arrived so far.
KAKAN
WG HIGHNECK DRESS
color _ Bitter Red,Dark Brown
size _ 2 (womens)
First, a KAKAN-esque knit dress.
While hand-spun knitwear is KAKAN's signature, knit items made with the opposite technique, whole garment knitting, are also offered every season.
Of course, I can't wear it, but when I saw the designer, Hanami-san, wearing it at the exhibition, it looked so wonderful that I placed an order.
The "WG" in the product name stands for "Whole Garment."
It's a high-neck, but it has a relaxed fit, not a tight one.
It has a slightly rumpled, soft impression.
The edges of the cuffs and hem are curled, utilizing the characteristics of the knit.
I think this is also a lovely point, preventing it from looking too dressy.
Also, as you can vaguely tell from the first photo, this dress is designed to be slightly narrower around the waist.
This allows you to create a bloused effect around the waist without needing a belt, making it a well-balanced knit dress.
KAKAN
WG ZIP CARDIGAN
color _ Bitter Red,Dark Brown,Black
size _ F (unisex)
And then there's the zip-up cardigan made of the same material.
This one is more compact, but I think a slim man could wear it.
Of course, it's perfect for women too.
A long leather cord hangs from the zipper.
You can even cut it to a nice length.
And if you look closely, this zipper subtly meanders in an S-shape.
I didn't even notice this until it was pointed out to me at the exhibition, but I think creating these "unobtrusive irregularities" is very characteristic of KAKAN.
The sleeves and hem of the zip cardigan are switched to ribbed knitting.
And it's reversible. In other words, a double zipper.
Even though Hanami-san herself excels at knitting, I feel she often adopts a masculine style.
That's precisely why tailored items are always included in the brand's collection, but I envision this zip cardigan being worn within such tailored pieces.
While we don't have KAKAN tailored items this season, I think it would pair excellently with IRENISA, for example.
And above all, that style looks cool whether worn by a man or a woman.
If the size fits, please try it on.
KAKAN
CREWNECK MOHAIR PULLOVER
color _ Black
size _ F (unisex)
As the name suggests, this is a crewneck knit using mohair.
Although it's for the autumn/winter season, the image is perhaps closer to that of a summer knit.
It's about this sheer.
If it's 30 degrees, you can easily wear it over a tank top, and as it gets cooler, you can enjoy using it freely in layered styles.
This is how it fits me, 178cm and 63kg (I've gained a little weight).
I think the size coverage is quite wide.
As you can tell when wearing it over a tank top, this mohair seems to be of extremely high quality.
Mohair is usually stiffer than wool and can be quite prickly, but this one is perfectly fine even when touching bare skin.
On the contrary, it feels good against the skin, is breathable, and depending on how you layer it, it will provide warmth, making it a very versatile piece.
This is unique to KAKAN, which can output everything from artistic creations to everyday items through knitwear.
And from here, we have KAKAN's power pieces for this season.
These are not hand-spun, which has been a staple since their debut, but rather a new form of expression.
These two pieces profoundly moved me among all the buying for CASANOVA&CO this season.
Allow me to introduce them.
KAKAN
LONG RUCHED COAT
color _ Floral
size _ 2 (unisex)
First up is this coat.
A super long coat with an extraordinary vibe.
A long-pile polyester fleece with a floral print.
The disturbed pile creates movement in the print's expression, as if wearing an Impressionist painting.
I don't know anything about art, though.
The shape itself also has movement, with the volume controlled as if pulled from above both front and back, creating natural drapes that flow outwards.
Since the coat is about 140cm long, a straight, flat silhouette would tend to look bland, but by moving the fabric in this way, the impression when worn is beautifully put together.
The front can be closed with buttons, and leaving the top button open creates a beautifully turned collar.
This is also a very long coat, so the impression around the face is very important for balancing the overall look, and it feels just right.
It looks like this when worn.
It's incredibly cool.
It should be an extremely challenging piece, being a "super long coat × all-over floral pattern," but at this point, thinking about it like that might be pointless.
I don't know how it comes together so beautifully as a single coat, but it has a wonderfully precarious, ephemeral, and beautiful balance.
I think this kind of expression is also very KAKAN-like.
The collar turn, the neat chest area, and the flow of the fabric towards the hem.
Utterly elegant.
A coat that looks picturesque just by walking normally.
With a coat of this volume made of wool or cotton, you might get tired wearing it, but the lightness of the polyester fleece material comes into play here.
It doesn't make your shoulders stiff, and to put it extremely, it's soft enough to sleep in.
The lining is 100% cupro in a smoky pink.
Swing it around and let the lining peek out as you walk. (laughs)
No issues with leg movement at all.
There are also pockets.
It might not be a coat for everyone, but I think it's a piece of clothing with the power to mesmerize at first sight.
KAKAN
KITE DRIVERS COWICHAN
color _ White
size _ F (unisex)
And finally, this one.
"IT'S OK TO SAY NO"
A hand-knitted Cowichan with a phrase cherished by Hanami-san etched on the back.
A hand-knitted Cowichan alone is drool-worthy, but that's not all.
Although it's hard to see in the photo, a polyester chenille yarn is knitted around the base wool yarn.
I've never seen anything like this before, and it's probably only possible with hand-knitting. I don't know, though.
This further emphasizes the unevenness characteristic of hand-knitting and dramatically reduces the weight, which is typically a disadvantage of hand-knits.
Furthermore, it also helps maintain the shape, making it quite unique yet rational.
However, if I had to name a disadvantage, it's that the polyester chenille yarn can be a bit prickly.
But I don't think anyone would wear such a heavy hand-knitted Cowichan directly against their skin, so for me, it's not really a disadvantage.
Besides, it's so cool that it makes up for any minor drawbacks.
Wearing it.
A very strong lineup of NEWMAN's UNDER, SARTO's shirt, and calmlence's pants.
But I think this kind of balance is wonderful.
Since this also has a double zipper, you can imagine it as a driver's knit.
When worn with the zipper open, the front is designed to flare out towards the hem.
Also, since it's a hand-knit, when you first wear it, you might feel a bit squirmy trying to find the right position for your shoulders, but it gradually forms its shape, so imagine it as a style that you create with your own body.
The one I'm wearing in the photo is my personal item, and as I gradually break it in and get used to it, I'm starting to feel it settle comfortably on my shoulders.
And on the left chest, a "kite."
At first, I wondered, "Why a kite?" but there was a proper reason. (laughs)
Apparently, in an alphabet learning book for English-speaking toddlers, illustrations were drawn like "A" for "Apple," "B" for "Bee," "C" for "Cat."
In that book, the "K" of "KAKAN" was for "Kite," so the kite was adopted with the mindset of, "It's cute and auspicious, reminiscent of New Year's."
I really like this kind of vibe from KAKAN. (laughs)
Someday, the "K" page might become "KAKAN."
Quite an impactful back style.
Being able to wear such a message on a hand-knit is just the best.
The presence of the chenille yarn creates an organic look that is evident even from a distance.
The back length is a little short, with a drop front.
This look is also incredibly cool.
I think even petite women can wear this coolly without it looking bulky.
A drop-front body and sharp, three-dimensional sleeves.
Perfect from every angle.
Since it's a Cowichan sweater, the zipper teeth are rough, and the pull tab has a classic feel.
It's amazing how they managed to achieve this balance, right down to the selection of accessories.
Exciting clothes like these are unconditionally good.
I believe there's a feeling you get from instinctively reaching for clothes that make your heart pound, rather than worrying about the little things, and I think KAKAN has the character to make you realize that.
If you're interested, please check it out, whether you're a man or a woman.