As well as being one of the world’s most recognizable artists, Takashi Murakami is a relentless fashion collaborator.
Luxury handbags, T-shirts, watches… from the high end to the high street, Murakami has collaborated on them all. However, his latest fashion endeavor is a little different: he has established his own footwear brand.
Ohana Hatake is an independent footwear brand led by the artist. And its debut release, a series of sliders inspired by Japanese house slippers, is already available on the brand’s website, retailing for $120 and shoppable via a raffle.
If you’re familiar with Murakami’s work, then the shape of these foam sliders likely doesn’t surprise you. They are, in classic Murakami style, brightly colored and forefront his signature flower motif (which has been reinterpreted into a strap for the sliders).
“The underlying concept in all of my work is to explore happiness through artistic creation,” says Murakami about his new footwear venture.
“In a country that, as a war-defeated nation, cannot claim full autonomy and independence, I am pursuing an expression that explores the very relationship between American and Japanese cultures. I would love it if those who wear these sandals could sense how this team managed to craft something wonderful out of my quirky, off-the-mark ideas.”
For now, the EVA foam sliders, available in four colors, are Ohana Hatake’s only product. However, photos released by the brand offer a peak at a second, more minimal slider model that will likely be part of a wider global rollout for Ohana Hatake in 2025.
There’s no saying what shoes Ohana Hatake and Murakami will release next but one thing is almost certain: it’ll be colorful and flowery.