Mission Statement
All about us
Shakkei
Shakkei is a Japanese term describing the art of designing a garden in a way that it integrates harmoniously into the surrounding landscape. Aesthetics, subtle design and complexity are domination elements of this concept that Gabriel Baradee transforms into sustainable fashion for women and men. Japanese art techniques are skilfully combined with European influences to be implemented with high-qualitative, certificated materials from organic and fair production.
Attention to detail, hand-crafted unique pieces, and small series emphasize the distinctiveness of this approach. The largest part of the collections are made in Austria, followed by other neighboring EU countries, thus creating value for local businesses, reducing CO2 emissions from transport and allowing for easy quality control. Accurately staged fashion shows containing performative elements are essential parts of Gabriel Baradee’s understanding of fashion and art.
We circle our CSR engagement around our localization strategy. Concerning our suppliers we look for certified fabrics from sustainable and/or organic production and fair work conditions.
Gabriel Baradee
He graduated from Japanese studies in Vienna and Berlin and received his Diploma from ESMOD Berlin (Ecole Supérieure des Art et Techniques de la Mode). He could gain international experiences in London and Tokyo. Since founding his own label Shakkei he lives and works predominantly in his home town Vienna.
His dedication towards Japanese and European art techniques allows him to constantly realize fashion projects at the interface with art: The initial presentations of his first collections in 2009, named “Moving Showroom Concept”, took place at art galleries and museums in Vienna and Zurich. His dress made of drilled paper yarn has been accepted to the fashion collection of Wien Museum (Vienna Metropolitan Museum). Starting from 2010 he designed several outfits of the performance artists Eva & Adele, e.g. for their appearance at Art Basel Miami Beach. In 2012 he arranged a performance using the work of artist Josef Marsteurer at Schauraum 35/nullnull in Krems (Lower Austria).
Further highlights of his career are the “Best Newcomer Award 2012” of the Vienna Awards for Fashion and Lifestyle, and an invitation to show his work at the lavera Showfloor during the Berlin Fashion Week in January 2013. Since 2011 he annually presents his label Shakkei at the MQ Vienna Fashion Week. In 2014 he was appointed womens’ wear designer at Gössl in Salzburg. Since 2015 he solely focuses on his own label and the Shakkei store in Vienna’s design district.
15 years of
Entrepreneuership
29 collections
since 2009
100
The Shakkei Team
Gabriel Baradee
Founder and Designer
Gabriel founded Shakkei in the Autumn of 2009. Since then he is Fashion Designer, Entrepreneur and Blogger. Each year, he designs two main collections (Spring/Summer, Autumn/Winter), and a T-shirt collection. Gabriel takes good care of our beloved regular customers and is always happy to welcome new ones.
In his Blog he provides Lifehacks and advice around the topics sustainable lifestyle and fashion.
For more information about his professional life see above, or contact him.
Evelin Grubbauer
Design Assistant
Evelin joined us as a Design Assistant in March 2023. She manages pattern construction and cutting, handles organizational tasks like partner and supplier communication, and has always great ideas for design and visual presentation of our fashion in our Viennese Store and online.
She studied Fashion Design at the Fashion Institute Vienna and went to the tailor master’s school at Herbststrasse with focus on historical costumes.
Over the years, she has amassed work experience in backstage organization at events like Vienna Fashion Week, and as a social media Manager for schnittBOGEN. After a couple of years focusing on costume design, she has returned to fashion as the designer behind her own label "evelin".