A photographer, well-versed in the cutting edge of glamorous fashion, embarked on a journey to explore the "present" of traditional attire. Over a 30-year journey, she encountered individuals adorned in ultimate haute couture. Their attire exuded a sense of "I am here." This timeless photo collection, captured in soft monochrome, delves into the origins of clothing! Yuriko Takagi, who studied graphic and fashion design and worked as a fashion designer in Europe, is the artist behind this work.
"Threads of Beauty" is a series by Yuriko Takagi, featuring people who wear traditional ethnic costumes as part of their daily lives. For 30 years, across 13 countries, she has continued to photograph, seeking "people whose facial expressions and clothes exist as one."
This book compiles a selection of over 1000 photographs taken to date. Through this journey, Takagi discovers the origin of clothing in the people she met. "For people, clothes are identity, wealth, and joy." From 1995, when she began her journey, to the present, the essence of traditional attire has been lost due to globalization. However, the connection between clothing and people that deeply captivated her – the beauty reflected in her photographs – is a part of what sustains human life, possessing a resilient strength. Bilingual Japanese-English.
