Outdoor Products is the standard and origin.

Why do you choose to feature simple items like this when functional backpacks are all the rage in the fashion scene?

pine coneThe main reason for this may be because of the "boom" in the market. It is true that in the past few seasons, there have been many functional backpacks that could be called "gear. But perhaps it's a reaction to that, and I'm starting to think that they are a bit too "to-match".

Journal Standard Relume actually carries such gear-like items, don't they?

pine coneYes, that's right. However, I tried to select simple items among them. These are items that are suitable for street wear and easy to use on the business scene as well. Our target customers at "Journal Standard Relume" are people in their mid-30s, and we select products for a more mature audience than the original "Journal Standard". We want to create items that are just right, based on trends but without being overdone.

I see.

pine coneI felt that simple and solid items are more sought after in today's market. For me personally, standard designs like those of Outdoor Products are appealing.

What kind of image do you have of the Outdoor Products brand?

pine coneI think of it as the originator and originating company. The design of this backpack, which has a main compartment and a small pocket on the front, was created by Outdoor Products. There is also the fact that "Herve Chapelier" in France also asked this brand to manufacture their products.

I didn't know there was such a backstory.

pine coneWe were making items for "Herve Chapellier" when "Outdoor Products" was manufacturing in the U.S., but not anymore. Herve Chapellier is now a well-known bag brand, but its foundation was laid with Outdoor Products.

A backpack reborn with an adult face.

What do you look for in a bag?

pine coneI think it would be good if it has the minimum necessary functions. This is because it is sometimes difficult to master the use of many functions. If there is a dedicated gadget sleeve, I feel that the way to use the gadget is set in advance, and I don't feel free. Of course, if it fits the scene and lifestyle, such functions can be used to great effect.

He said that if the function is simple, the usage is left to the user.

pine coneYes: Yes, it is. It gives us more freedom, so we can edit the usage as we wish.

What do you look for in a design?

pine cone: It is a prerequisite that it is easy to balance with your clothes. That is why I prefer simple items to those that make a strong statement.

Did you have this in mind when designing the backpacks that were specially ordered for Journal Standard Relume?

pine coneYes, that's right. Minimal functionality and simple design are the original elements of this backpack, so I did not make much changes to the functionality. The only thing I did was to add a sleeve for a computer in the main compartment. The main point of this special order is the rearranged shape.

Please tell us what exactly you did to arrange it.

pine coneAs I mentioned earlier, our target audience is adults in their late 30s, so we wanted to make the look sharper. While inline items have a soft, round shape when carried on the back, we adjusted the silhouette of the top portion of the special-order item to make it slightly more square.

When I compare the two, the difference is obvious.

pine cone: Yes, that's right. The inline looked a bit small, so we extended the length by 7 cm and arranged the size to fit the back of an adult male.

The gusset on the top portion is narrower than the inline. Why is this so?

pine coneThe wide gusset gives the body a drooping silhouette when heavy loads are placed in it. I think this is possible in casual situations, but this time we wanted to make a special order for a more mature look, so we designed it so that it would not droop down.

The sharpness is emphasized.

pine cone: Maybe so. The length is longer, but I don't think the capacity is that different from the inline item due to the narrower top gusset.

It's unprecedented to make a custom order to change the size pattern from scratch, isn't it?

pine coneThe person in charge of the brand said so, too. Until now, it seems that they have only changed the proportions or increased the size by a few dozen percent while keeping the same shape. This was the first time for them to tweak a pattern in pursuit of an ideal, and it was very rewarding.

Increase the variety of bags you have on hand.

In addition to these special-order items, you have also selected other items from Outdoor Products.

pine coneInline: backpacks, briefcases, drum bags, and waist bags.

pine coneThe drum bag is one of the items that are synonymous with "Outdoor Products" as well as the backpack. Because of its large capacity, we hope you will use it when traveling or on a business trip.

pine coneI selected this item because I have recently been interested in waist bags as a trendy item next to the "sakosh. Since it is a casual item, I dare to choose a colorful one so that I can play with the coordination.

pine cone: I chose a basic color for the briefcase so that it is easy to use in business situations. It can also be used as a bag-in-bag, so I thought it would be easy to use.

With such a wide range of variations, it will have a strong presence in stores.

pine coneAs I mentioned at the beginning, I think there are many customers who are interested in these simple items these days, so I would like to offer them to them. Outdoor Products' items are of high quality and cost-effective. So I recommend them to those who want to increase the variety of items they have on hand. We would be happy if you could first pick one up with a light heart and enjoy your current mood, while at the same time experiencing its ease of use.