From father to son: what is passed down through style.
We asked the two of them—who each enjoy striking a balance between functionality and fashion in their own unique ways—which items from today’s lineup caught their eye.
YOPPI: The latest sports-style vests and jackets really feature those pop of color accents you’d expect from an outdoor brand, don’t they? I absolutely love pieces with bold linings. Today’s jacket also had a unique lining color that really captured the brand’s signature style. I really like color schemes reminiscent of ’90s mountain bikes.
Yukumo: I thought the double pockets on the first pair of shorts were pretty cool. They have large pockets in the front and back that can hold plenty of stuff. They’ll probably come in handy when I ride my bike, too.
YOPPI: Those pants are really great. The pocket design and the look of the logo tag on the front have a real '90s vibe, but I love that they've been updated with functional materials.
Yukumo: And then there are “Bean Boots.” There’s a bike builder in New York that I really like, and he always wears these “Bean Boots” when he’s working in his workshop. When I saw the real thing today, I thought to myself once again, “This is it!” What surprised me most was the construction of the tongue. Since the upper and the tongue are connected, it felt like it wrapped around my foot just like a slip-on.
Even during the interview, as they chatted about everything from bicycles to clothes—covering a wide range of topics—I had a question I wanted to ask the two of them, who at times seemed like a father and son with that slightly awkward dynamic, and at other times like close friends. What is it that’s being passed down from father to son? The answer I received was an attitude—one that goes deeper than material possessions or knowledge—of “trusting your own instincts.”
YOPPI: If I had to put it into words, I guess my stance is, “I won’t wear anything unless I genuinely think it’s great.” Even if I say, “This is cool,” she’ll absolutely refuse to wear it unless she’s convinced herself (laughs).
Yukumo: (Laughter)
YOPPI: I never forced them to skate or ride a bike. Since our house was right next to a big park, I’d take them there to tire them out so they’d go to sleep, and before I knew it, they started doing it on their own. It might also have had a lot to do with the fact that they saw me assembling bikes at home on a regular basis.
From the criteria for choosing things to her approach to play—the lifestyle that YOPPI exemplified was naturally passed on to Shigumo, even without the need for words.
Even when looking at the same pair of pants, YOPPI senses a “90s vibe” in them, while Shigumo finds a “contemporary freshness.” While presenting different values for each era, the brand remains at the heart of conversations between parents and children. L.L.Bean, too, surely hopes to be a brand that is passed down across generations in this way.
