TWK Issey
WELTKERN · Rimasùu Studio · 2025
A calligraphic incise typeface from Rimasùu Studio, drawing on French vintage fashion invitations and Japanese aesthetics to blend stone-carved structure with brush-like gesture.
About
Sitting in the tradition of Optima, TWK Issey carries no serifs yet reads as though it might, with carved stroke inflections, varying weight contrast and rounded terminals that echo brush pressure. The design stems from a close study of French vintage fashion show invitations and Japanese visual culture, giving it a retro cadence that does not tip into pastiche. With 1,241 glyphs covering over 100 languages and spacing handled by Igino Marini, it is well-equipped for editorial layouts, visual identities and luxury brand work.
Classification
TWK Issey belongs to the incise tradition, sitting between serif and sans-serif in the manner of Optima: no serifs, but carved inflections and variable stroke widths that reference stone-cut letterforms. Calligraphic brush gestures and rounded terminals further distinguish it from a pure geometric or grotesque sans.