Comfortable and easy-to-style everyday wear.
—I hear that BTMK is a brand that originated from a textile manufacturer.
Kobayashi: That’s right. After leaving my job as a patternmaker for a fashion brand, I started making costumes for artists. Then I met the CEO of a fabric manufacturer, and we decided to launch BTMK.
Kaita: So does that mean you also develop fabrics?
Kobayashi: Yes. Basically, we use fabrics we produce in-house at BTMK, and whenever I ask the CEO for a fabric with a specific texture, he makes it happen.
Sho: Interesting.
Kobayashi: Even a 1% change in the blend ratio makes a huge difference in the final result, and it’s fascinating how the texture and sheen of the cotton vary depending on when and where it’s sourced.
Kaita: Does the quality of the fabric vary depending on the era—like, is fabric from a certain decade better than others?
Kobayashi: I think it varies depending on the era and the person, given factors like the quality of materials and the calibration of the machinery in use. There were also times when regulations on machining fluids were less strict.
Kaita: It’s really complex, isn’t it? You’ve got the fabric, the pattern, and the sewing. Since I can’t make fabric or clothes myself, I think it’s truly amazing.
—BTMK offers casual wear that lets you be yourself without feeling self-conscious. What does “everyday wear” mean to the two of you?
Kaita: Clothes that are comfortable to wear, after all. I think it’s important that they fit my current lifestyle. I wear different clothes to work than I do on my days off. It’s not that I’m slacking off, and I don’t want to wear shabby clothes, but I prefer something as comfortable as possible.
Sho: I love workwear, and it’s become my everyday attire. After all, items like drizzler jackets and denim pants were originally workwear. Clothes that look like uniforms have become my everyday wear.
Kobayashi: Comfort is best, right? I’m the type who hates a hassle, so I wanted to create clothes that you can wear anywhere—whether in the living room, on the street, or anywhere else—which is why I made BTMK a brand focused on everyday wear.
—What aspects do you focus on when creating everyday clothing that allows you to be yourself?
Kobayashi: We really focus on comfort. For example, even with T-shirts, we attach the sleeves so they drape forward along the shoulder and arm, just like a suit, striking a balance between functionality and elegance. While we create everyday wear, we incorporate elements from formal wear and design concepts from other categories.
—Most of the items on display are black. What does black mean to the two of you?
Sho: I wear a lot of black clothes. My shoes are always black.
Kaita: I like to build my outfits around black and add pops of color with accessories and bags. Since sporty items tend to have vibrant colors, I probably pair them with black quite often.
Sho: No matter how unconventional the pieces you choose, black always pulls the look together.
Kaita: An all-black outfit really pulls everything together, doesn't it? It's interesting how black looks different depending on the fabric.
—Since the BTMK lineup includes items with washed finishes and garment-dyed pieces, I think you can create a rich, all-black outfit even if you style it using only BTMK items.
Sho: Garment-dyed items are especially easy to style.
—Well then, since you’re here, feel free to take a look around!
