Take Ivy

Craig Cohen and Wes del Val will more than likely go down as unsung heroes—inconspicuous apostles reviving the cult phenomenon known as Take Ivy. The book, shot in 1965 by Japanese photographer Teruyoshi Hayashida, notoriously fetches upwards of $1,500 on eBay. It is rare, elusive and lauded by The New York Times as “a treasure of fashion insiders.” A small-run reprint was released in Japan in 2006 and sold out almost immediately. The unassuming collection of candid menswear-focused photographs perfectly encapsulates the unique student fashion on the campuses of America’s Ivy League universities. We have long pined for a copy. So it was much to our satisfaction that the guys from powerHouse Books put an advanced copy in our hands.

We sat down with them in their Brooklyn office to chat about the process in reviving the most highly sought after documentation of Ivy League style. Wes strolls up in his brown leather Sperrys and short sleeve sweatshirt. We instantly share a bond through an unspoken dress code. In thumbing through our copy, it is apparent Craig and Wes labored over every last detail in their Take Ivy reprint—right down to the bullet points. Although scans have popped up on the web via The Trad, few could actually read it—until now. And until the first English-language edition is released by powerHouse Books August 31st, you can pre-order yours ($16.50, Amazon.com) before it sells out in a New York minute.