Cover story: Hakken reveals the connection between fashion, cosplay and authentic self-expression

The child of a designer and tailor, Hakken picked up basic needlework from their mother, which enabled them to make outfits. At age 12, they recreated Uchiha Itachi’s iconic Akatsuki cloak through an amalgamation of sewing and double-sided tape.

“My first costume was pretty bad,” Hakken admits. “The one you see on my Instagram today is my redemption arc.” They turned their hobby into a full-time career in 2016, after graduating from high school. Today, their loving mother remains a core member of their support squad, enthusiastically helping to conceptualise, create and alter costumes when needed—no tape required.

Hakken has also developed impressive make-up and styling skills since starting their career, but that doesn’t mean they can take on any character. “Sephiroth from Final Fantasy 7 is one example,” Hakken says, referring to the main antagonist of the popular Square Enix game, known for his long silver hair and black coat with metallic pauldrons.

“There is a lot of preparation that goes into a character like that: the hair, the costume details, even his muscles—I would have to work out a lot. If there’s one thing I want to do, it’s to perfect the cosplay and do the character justice. I think it’s a form of respect for the character and myself.”

Hakken acknowledges they were fortunate to discover another passion from their passion after a first trip to Venice; they visited in 2019 to portray Bruno Bucciarati from Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure. “My love of travelling started with me trying to look for locations for photo shoots, but then I fell in love with going to beautiful places,” Hakken explains. They have also travelled to France to capture the essence of Howl Pendragon from Howl’s Moving Castle and Rohan Kishibe, also from Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure.

“I usually plan my trips to last a few days and spend one to two days on the photo shoot, if needed. For the rest of it, I take my time to explore new places and soak up the culture. In the future, I’m considering making a trip to Egypt to capture the essence of Noriaki Kakyoin and Jotaro Kujo from Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Part 3, if I can manage it. Egypt is just one of those places I’ve always wanted to see.” 

Beyond cosplaying, Hakken has created their own signature style defined by sartorial elegance. While they remain committed to catering to their supportive fanbase, the young model is also seizing the opportunity to venture into new opportunities in fashion. As for whether they would want to play a more direct role in the creation of fashion for others, they say, “When it comes to designing, I haven’t really thought about exploring it, although I love looking at design and paying close attention to tailoring details. Who knows what the future will bring?”

But the connection between cosplay and fashion is clear to Hakken. “The way I see it, within cosplay, you will encounter many styles and elements from the fashion world. I see a lot of designs in the media finding their roots in real-life fashion, from traditional to modern wear. For example, if you look at outfits from Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, they’re filled with anime costume energy, but they’re also very fashionable because the author, Hirohiko Araki, takes inspiration from fashion magazines.” 

Indeed, in his work, the renowned manga artist Araki has referenced fashion illustrations by the late fashion illustrators Antonio Lopez and Tony Viramontes, as well as photographers contracted by Vogue. Araki’s references are genuinely diverse, but his love of fashion is unquestionable, leading to eccentric character designs that are cemented in pop culture. “If there’s one person I would love to meet, it is Araki,” Hakken says.

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When not embodying a character, Hakken is expanding their personal style language. “I like tailored suits and men’s traditional wear, especially from the Twenties and Fifties—there’s just something about sharp tailoring that’s really attractive. I take a lot of inspiration from traditional menswear—like tuxedos—to inform my everyday looks.” They shy away from modern casual menswear: “It’s not bad, but it’s missing the character and pure elegance you can see in how older generations dressed.”

The world of fashion has long understood that gender is a matter of social construct. At one point, high heels and even the colour pink were seen as conventionally masculine; their more recent association with “femininity” are a reminder that norms are constantly evolving. As a result, Hakken prefers to actively embrace a neutral approach to their identity: a blank canvas open to unlimited possibilities.

“I realised [my authentic self in] early secondary school, around the age of 13 or 14. At the time, my family held a very different mindset towards the revelation,” Hakken says. “Eventually, they learnt to understand things differently and are far more open-minded today. While it was a slow process for them, it was always clear to me who I am, from the moment I started to come into an age of maturity. I don’t actively think about wanting to be a boy or girl: I just dress the way I want to, and it feels natural.”

Ultimately, the focus comes back to fearlessly expressing their individuality through fashion. “Fashion is a part of me. It is what I wrap around my soul,” Hakken says. “It is about finding what I feel comfortable in, a skin that I most like myself in. Fashion is a significant part of my personality.” They explain that they prefer a life in which the discussion of labels revolves solely around those attached to fine apparel. “I don’t care what people perceive me to be, most of the time. Just don’t box me into [restrictive] gender norms, and anything else is fine with me.”

The 26-year-old is less experimental when it comes to their habits: they acknowledge being conscious about observing a mindful diet and engaging in regular workouts. They admit to trying to cut down on milk tea and mala hot pot, which are their favourites although it’s not an absolute ban. “My favourite café back home in Miri is Coffee Joa. It’s run by a Korean-Malaysian couple, and they have really good cream coffee and desserts,” they tell us.

While fond of venturing to various kopitiams around their home, Hakken has learnt to protect their privacy—living as a public figure, they have had to master the art of privacy. “I share what I am willing to share and the things that I don’t, I safeguard. There are things that you just don’t need to disclose to anyone. I think I handle it very nicely: there’s a balance between what I show people and what I keep for myself.”

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One thing fans can be grateful for is that the embargo on information doesn’t extend to the secret behind their flawless skin. “One thing I always do is keep it hydrated. I don’t have a special routine beyond consistently slapping on a toner. My skin is very sensitive and can’t tolerate a lot of additives, so I use the most simplified products. Even then, I still occasionally break out,” they say.

“I also avoid the sun as much as I can—but I do enjoy taking pictures at the beach,” says Hakken, who grew up in a coastal city. “My Itachi and Zhongli photo sets were taken at the beach, and in Miri there are so many types of beaches, so it’s fun to explore and experiment.”

In conjunction with their birthday celebration in May, Hakken hosted their first private fan party. The sold-out ticketed event was a milestone for the model, who had long wanted to personally connect with their like-minded following of cosplay and fashion enthusiasts. Hundreds of local and international fans leapt at the chance to dress up and join Hakken for two thrilling nights of themed parties, one at The Bund PJ on May 17, and the following night at the Heli Lounge Bar KL.

The weekend was Hakken’s way of giving back to their dedicated community of fans. They say, “I am deeply thankful that I have had the opportunity to inspire people, especially anyone who may be struggling to express themselves. I am pleased if they feel even a little bit of comfort when they see me on this path, and realise it’s okay to just be yourself.”

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