Suki Takagi’s Journey to Creating a World-Class Salon in Vancouver
Suki Takagi is a trailblazer in the beauty industry. In 1972, she opened her first salon, Suki’s, in Vancouver’s South Granville neighbourhood. It was her dream to create a top salon that celebrated hair artistry. Takagi, a trained stylist who had apprenticed at the Gene Shacove Salon in Beverly Hills, California, was inspired by her vision of a first world-class salon in Vancouver. She wanted to challenge the traditional norms of the hair industry and create a salon that celebrated innovation, creativity, and diversity.
However, creating the salon of her dreams was not easy. On the first day of the salon’s existence, all the stylists promptly walked out. They refused to work with a woman, especially an Asian woman. Takagi was left sitting in an empty salon, alone with her vision. Nonetheless, she persevered and decided that she would create a salon that not only celebrated diversity but also recognized each individual’s talent and creativity.
Her philosophy of inclusion remains one of her proudest moments, as she never compromised on diversity based on nationality, race, color of skin, religion, language, customs, and most importantly, sexual orientation. For 50 years, Suki’s has remained a company that values diversity and inclusion, which has contributed to its success in providing innovative and high-quality service to their clients.
Suki Takagi’s approach to building a celebrated salon focused on getting the hair world beyond Vancouver to notice her work. She believed that one cannot claim to be the best in Vancouver all the time, as no one would pay attention to them. Therefore, the Suki’s team started styling and photographing their work with the hopes of getting recognized in an international hair forum. Takagi’s efforts bore fruit in 1979, when she displayed her work at the Orovision hair show at Wembley Stadium in London. The competition included stylists from 28 countries, and Suki’s team received a standing ovation for their original cut, color, and design.
Recognition came rolling in, and Suki Takagi went on to showcase her salon’s work in international cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Bologna. In addition to excellence in hairdressing, Takagi’s experience in the beauty industry taught her the importance of creating a perfect haircut that suits her clients’ lifestyles and professions. Her passion for hair artistry stems from the experience of changing a client’s perception of themselves through a haircut or color. Even after 50 years, she remains excited about the profession every single day.
Today, Suki’s is more than just one salon. It features five salons throughout Metro Vancouver, one in Victoria, and a Suki’s Academy that has trained more than 1,000 stylists since 1978. For the past 18 years, Takagi’s son, Ken Takagi, has been the CEO and now President of Suki’s operations. She is proud of the work he has done with the salon company and academy, investing in future generations to carry on the efforts of those who came before them.
Suki Takagi’s 50th anniversary event was held on November 2020 at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden in Chinatown where the Suki’s team celebrated their 50-year history. The three-day event included five hair shows with models showcasing creations from the Suki’s hairdressing team, a nod to the salon’s history creating works of hair art.
Suki Takagi’s success story in the beauty industry is one of perseverance, creativity, and inclusivity. She believed in her vision of creating a world-class salon that celebrated diversity and innovation, and she pursued it relentlessly. Suki’s remains a symbol of excellence in the beauty industry, and Takagi’s contribution to the industry will forever be remembered as a trailblazing success story.
