How Much Do You Know About Designers Who Retired Before the Internet Era?（20471120
Today, I want to introduce you to Nakagawa Masahiro, the designer behind "20471120."
The opening animation logo of 2047112
Before the internet era, many great designers chose to retire, but their designs shone brightly like fireworks in their time, creating moments that were eternal. One such designer, somewhat well-known, is Maison Martin Margiela. These designers have such rich stories that ten posts wouldn’t be enough to cover them all! But let’s return to 20471120.
The brand “20471120” uniquely uses a series of numbers (representing November 20, 2047, when he believes something magical will happen) as its name. The pronunciation of the brand name is the English reading of each digit, “two or four seven one one two or.” The brand was originally founded in 1992 by designer Nakagawa Masahiro and his friend Lica under the name “BELLISSIMA,” which was later changed to 20471120. In the 90s, it was very popular in Harajuku, standing shoulder to shoulder with brands like UNDERCOVER and Bathing Ape. The keywords for 20471120 are: recycle, art, mode, individuality.
In 1994, 20471120 made its debut at Tokyo Fashion Week, attracting many young fans, especially from Harajuku, with its distinctive style. By 1997, 20471120 had made its way to the Paris Fashion Week stage. Nakagawa Masahiro’s design style is very unique. In the late 90s, he launched a project where old clothes were recycled and redesigned, making him a pioneer in the field of sustainable development. Later, his designs leaned more towards a combination of fashion and art. In 1998, Nakagawa Masahiro launched the “Tokyo Recycle Project,” aimed at recycling old clothes, which was well-received at the time, and in 2001, he opened a store with the same name. In media interviews, Nakagawa Masahiro explained that his decision was a response to the rampant overconsumption in Tokyo and the economic downturn in Japan.
In the early 2000s, The Japan Times reported that the brand 20471120 announced its termination.
