A watch tells a person's story.
—Please tell us about your fashion as well. Your collections are themed around movies every season—what inspired that?
Continent: When I was a student, I didn’t know how to come up with concepts. Then one day, I realized I could just use the things I liked as my theme. My first collection was inspired by the movie *The Graduate*, which I created right after graduating from a vocational school in Osaka, just as I was moving to Tokyo. Back in high school, I went from Nara to Ame-mura in Osaka and discovered vintage clothing. My fascination with the leather and denim jackets worn by actors in American movies was my starting point. From then on, I began watching movies with a keen eye for fashion, paying attention to details like the shape of shirt lapels and the color of stitching.
Aoki: It’s interesting, isn’t it? I’ve been wearing these jeans for three or four years now—so much so that they’re falling apart. There’s a hole in the pocket, and my phone keeps almost falling out, so I’ve been meaning to sew it up, but I just haven’t gotten around to it yet (laughs). I really have a strong attachment to things that last a long time.
—Do you usually wear a watch?
Continent: At events like weddings where you wear a suit, a watch just feels like a natural part of the outfit. It’s like, “suit and watch.” It’s just my own impression, but maybe it’s influenced by spy movies (laughs). On occasions like that, I feel like wearing one, and I find myself wanting one. Having a watch there makes me look more sophisticated and lifts my spirits. It’s simple, but I think it’s a genuine feeling.
Aoki: I wear one almost all the time when I’m not working. My personal style is pretty simple—I’m the type who likes to use things I’m attached to for a long time. I’m interested in accessories too, but I haven’t quite found anything that feels right for me yet. Watches, though, feel a little different from other accessories. Whether it’s gold or silver, they’re a visual element that lifts my spirits, and I feel like they blend seamlessly into my style. Also, no matter how simple the design, I feel like just seeing someone wearing a watch gives me a glimpse into their personal story, so I can’t help but stare at people wearing watches when I’m out and about.
Continent: I see what you mean. It does seem like you can get a sense of a person’s personality from the watch they’re wearing, doesn’t it?
Aoki: That’s exactly right. Whether someone’s wearing a super expensive gold watch or one they bought for around 2,000 yen, both have their own kind of coolness. I usually wear military-style or compact vintage watches rather than luxury ones, but I really think watches are fascinating.
