Kenji Tanaka | Founder & Creative Director
Elegance does not begin with fabric, nor does it end with a finished garment.
It starts with understanding how a person moves, thinks, lives, and wishes to present themselves to the world.
That belief has guided Kenji Tanaka throughout more than two decades dedicated to menswear design, pattern making, and high quality garment development.
After graduating from Bunka Fashion College in Tokyo, one of Japan’s most respected fashion institutions, Kenji began his career working with companies specializing in menswear, leather garments, and large-scale apparel production.
From the very beginning, his focus was never simply on fashion trends, but on the architecture of clothing itself. Pattern making, proportion, functionality, and construction became the foundation of his work.
Throughout his career in Japan, he developed menswear and womenswear collections, supervised international production processes, and collaborated with manufacturers across Asia. These experiences provided him with a comprehensive understanding of every stage of garment creation, from concept development to final production.
His work has also been recognized through participation and nominations in international fashion competitions and exhibitions across Japan and Europe. Among them was rij, a collaborative project developed with Japanese designer Akira Naka and presented within the framework of the 20th International Festival of Fashion and Photography in Hyères, France, in 2005. These experiences contributed to shaping a global perspective on fashion, craftsmanship, and product development.
Between 2005 and 2007, Kenji lived in London, where he further expanded his perspective on menswear and European sartorial culture. Experiencing both Japanese and European design traditions helped shape a philosophy that values timeless elegance, functionality, and attention to detail.
Later, he established himself in Colombia, where he continued developing collections and products for leading companies within the fashion and apparel sector. Over the years, he has worked across design, product development, research and development, international production, and creative direction.
His professional experience also includes teaching pattern making and garment construction, sharing technical knowledge with emerging designers and industry professionals.
In 2014, Kenji established Uniontailors as an experimental menswear project, exploring a contemporary approach to tailoring through garments crafted one by one. Driven by a vision to combine technical precision, functionality, and timeless elegance, he spent the following years refining the concept while expanding his professional experience and developing his own perspective on menswear.
In 2019, Uniontailors evolved from an experimental project into a client-focused menswear brand. Since then, it has specialised in luxury menswear, bespoke and made-to-measure garments, offering a highly personalized experience shaped by Japanese precision, European sartorial influences, and a deep appreciation for craftsmanship
Today, from Bogotá, Colombia, Kenji continues to lead Uniontailors as Founder and Creative Director, remaining actively involved in the design, development, and construction of every collection.
His work reflects the convergence of three influences that have shaped his journey: Japanese precision, European sartorial tradition, and the warmth and character of Latin America.
Rather than following trends, his goal is to create garments that remain relevant for years to come.
Because true quality rarely needs to announce itself. It reveals itself in the details.