Five Fits with: Takahiro Osaki
The final Five Fits installment, a conversation with the Creative Director of Florentine tailoring house Liverano & Liverano.
Takahiro Osaki is one of the most sharply dressed men I’ve ever met—and I’ve met a lot of them. Born in Japan but residing in Florence, Osaki first worked in shoe patterning, following in the family business—they owned a small women’s shoe factory. Taka, as he’s known colloquially, didn’t want to focus solely on the Japanese market. At the time, when Japanese people learned other languages, they were usually English, French and Spanish. His father suggested he learn Italian so that when he moved back to Japan, he’d have less competition in a crowded market.
At age 23, he moved to Florence, opting for a smaller Italian city with a rich history of leather manufacturing. Within three months, a high-school friend of Taka’s chose to visit him and have a bespoke jacket made by a famous local tailor. He asked Osaki to accompany him to his appointment to translate back and forth for him. The tailor, Mr. Liverano, didn’t speak English or Japanese. Because Taka was still learning Italian, he doubted his ability to aptly translate, but he agreed and attended the appointment. Working for Mr. Liverano wasn’t on his mind, but over time, given Florence is such a small city, Taka would repeatedly run into him and greet him or chat a bit whenever he did.
When Taka returned with his friend to translate once again during another appointment, Mr. Liverano quipped that he always sees him walking around and asked what he was doing for work. Taka replied with the simple truth, that he was working part-time in a hair salon cleaning up and shampooing people, so that he could better learn Italian by hearing how real people spoke the language casually. After two years, Mr. Liverano offered Taka a job and he’s since worked there for 20 years.
Taka also handles the brand’s presence at trunk shows—in New York, Bangkok, Singapore, Tokyo and London, which is how we first met. I’ve photographed Taka numerous times for The Armoury, where Liverano used to do their trunk shows here in the city. During a trip last fall to New York, I met with Taka on an early morning before a full day of appointments to photograph some outfits and talk about Liverano & Liverano, his role there, his relationship to clothing and style, and more.
Was there a first moment that you fell in love with clothing or style?
I’ve always been interested. My passion began in Japan, where I grew up in my family’s small ladies’ shoe factory. From a young age, I was immersed in the world of craftsmanship—surrounded by shoe lasts and leather, watching skilled artisans attach soles and heels to shoes. I would observe my father cutting leather by hand using paper patterns, and this early exposure to traditional craftsmanship left a lasting impression on me. As I grew older and began to develop my own sense of style, I became fascinated with menswear and was always searching for the latest fashion and trends. At that time, I had a neighbor who worked in a vintage shop, and I frequently visited to explore what the shop had. I wasn’t buying designer brands myself, but I became aware of the great fashion houses and I started seeking out secondhand shops for interesting vintage pieces and clothing from established brands. From that moment on, my love for clothing deepened. Little by little, I began studying the history of classic garments and military-wear, developing a deeper appreciation for how clothing evolves and the stories behind iconic pieces.
What does your role as Creative Director entail? What are some of your daily and higher-level tasks?
My role involves both day-to-day creative decisions and the broader vision for the brand. On a daily basis, I work closely with our tailors and artisans in the workshop, overseeing the craftsmanship and ensuring that each garment maintains the high standards that Liverano is known for. I’m deeply involved in materials—choosing fabrics, finding the right mills and suppliers, and ensuring we have the best materials for our clients to peruse. I also work on developing our patterns and models, deciding which styles to produce and how to evolve our cuts and silhouettes while staying true to our identity.
At a higher level, I’m responsible for determining where and how we produce our garments, managing relationships with our manufacturing partners, and ensuring quality control throughout the production process. I maintain and evolve Liverano’s aesthetic direction while honoring the traditions and techniques that Mr. Liverano has established. This includes developing new designs and interpretations of classic menswear, curating our seasonal collections, and ensuring that everything we create reflects the balance between tradition and modernity that defines our approach. I also represent the brand visually, whether that’s through photoshoots, collaborations, or how we present ourselves to clients and the wider menswear community.
