Kenzo Takada, an 81-year-old man, died on October 4, 2020, due to coronavirus-related complications. But Kenzo Takada, the fashion guru, lives on forever because icons never die. Fashion designer Adam Edelberg says Takada has inspired many in the industry.
Edelberg, who has worked as a fashion designer for brand Adam Edelberg until 2017 and as the assistant designer to the German fashion designer Wolfgang Joop, is now a financial consultant and wealth manager at MLP Bank. He grew up in Berlin, studied and lived in London, and created couture gowns for women in Germany, the UK, Russia, and China. He attributes his success to the example set by Takada over the course of his illustrious career.
“The world lost an iconic fashion designer when Kenzo Takada died in early October due to COVID-19 complications,” says Edelberg. “Though he has passed on, his legacy will live on forever. His trailblazing spirit fueled my own desire to create something nobody else had. I was creating couture for a very small group of people who could appreciate it. I worked for a very long time in this industry. Even my parents never wanted me to do so. But I stuck to it and succeeded.”
But Takada’s legacy as a fashion designer isn’t the only thing that has inspired Edelberg. Takada was also an entrepreneur who was featured in various documentaries over the years, directed his own film in 1981, opened up his store in Paris, and more. While fashion has always been rewarding, Edelberg knew he was destined to do even more. Since earning a degree in Economics, he has gone on to work at MLP Bank in Germany. He advises clients on investments and real estate. In fact, many of the clients he had when actively working in the fashion industry have become clients of his in the financial space. Edelberg, who also works with students and young entrepreneurs, plans to honor Takada’s legacy by building his brand independently.
“I am planning to create a channel on YouTube to discuss financial services, banking, and wealth management,” says Edelberg, who adds he will strive to become an icon in his own right.