Every so often we are lucky enough to find a fashion Instagram account that shows us something completely new and inspiring. When scrolling through the Explore page a few weeks ago, two photos by Japanese designer Daisuke Takamatsu (@dimda_) were so out-of-the-box creative that we had to instantly like and follow. Daisuke takes ordinary household items like cotton face masks and net foam for fruits and turns them into customised luxury accessories like Prada and Dior handbags, while also upcycling vintage designer pieces.
Daisuke is a surrealist fashion designer, like Elsa Schiaparelli in the 1920s, who uses the cut-up technique created by Dapper Dan in the 1980s. What Daisuke’s work adds to Dapper Dan’s approach to knockoff culture is a focus on sustainability. The designer’s surreal, customised luxury accessories include pieces like an Hermès Chinese takeaway box, a Louis Vuitton cupholder, a Fendi purse shaped like a toilet (similar to Marcel Duchamp’s “Fountain” sculpture), and even a Dior chopstick holder.
Daisuke’s work is undeniably cool, and it’s just a sample of the handful of creatives on the ‘gram who are reworking upcycled and vintage pieces into uniquely collectable fashion and accessories. Cierra Boyd (@friskmegood), All Amin (@haramwithsugar) Graci Pepworth (@gracipeps), and Lois Saunders (@lois_saunders) are four genius designers who are creating similar work. Cierra, All, and Graci create impressive, one-of-a-kind designs using upcycled trainers from Balenciaga, Nike, and New Balance, while Lois’s hot-girl pieces include barely-there coordinated sets and dresses made from repurposed Playboy and Hello Kitty fabrics.
If you fancy seeing more of these surreal upcycled and customised pieces, keep reading ahead for our favourite creations by these designers.
