Fashion designer Takeo Kikuchi was born on May 25, 1939, in Tokyo. He was known as "Take Sensei." He graduated from the Hara Nobuko Academy in 1956 and formed the "Fashion Modern Group" and began his career as a designer. In 1971, he founded "BIGI." He personally designed the men's brand "BIGI Men's," developing a British-style European casual line. When the TV drama "Scarred Angel" was released in 1974, the BIGI outfits worn by the lead actor, Kenichi Hagiwara, became a hot topic. He later changed the brand name to "MEN'S BIGI," and in the 1980s, he gained immense popularity, sparking the DC brand boom. In 1984, he launched his own brand, "TAKEO KIKUCHI," offering playful items with a traditional British style based on the concept of "LONDON POP." In 2003, he left Takeo Kikuchi, entrusting designer Nobukuni Futoshi as his successor. In 2005, he started a new project, 40CARATS&525, serving as director, designer, and buyer. He worked on designs for the Cool Biz Collection 2006, among others.

In 2012, he returned to Takeo Kikuchi as creative director, taking charge of brand promotion and store direction, and opening the flagship store, the Takeo Kikuchi Shibuya Meiji Dori Main Store, in Shibuya.