HOUYHNHNM

grasslandsThat is an issue for me as well. Since I make things myself, I have to decide whether to use natural or high-tech materials. I have a military coat that was made in the 1950s, but it has not lost its "function" yet. However, it would be difficult to wear such a heavy coat on a daily basis.

I know that high-tech materials such as Gore-Tex are convenient, and I am glad that I have them because it always rains when I travel to New York, for example, but their performance inevitably deteriorates over time. On the other hand, natural wool fabrics used by FILSON and WOOLRICH clog up when they get wet, and although they are heavy, they protect you from the wind and rain.

In fact, I wish KENNETHFIELD would stick to natural materials, but since I myself think both are good, I wonder if I don't have to make up my mind. That is something I always have trouble with.

grasslandsDALE of Norway's knitwear also has a merino wool outer material, but the inner material is GORE® WINDSTOPPER®. I think it is important to keep a good balance between the two when looking at knitwear like this.

grasslandsThat's because the fabric was (water-repellent) compressed wool. When I make my own clothes, it is so important to collect materials that I use them every season if I find a material I like, and I decide on the shape of the garment last. So, there are things that I have been using since the launch of the brand, and the other day I heard that the wax cotton I liked was being discontinued, so I said, "Well, give me all of it," and bought it. If we don't buy everything when it is available, it is impossible for a small company like ours to place orders for additional production.

But this one (Nupsi Bootie Wool III Short) is great. It's a mix of compressed wool and Primaloft® insulation, a high-tech material that is very close to what I want to do.

grasslandsI feel like jeans would be too wild, so something like wool pants and 60/40 cloth outerwear would fit in nicely. I think it is better to match materials and colors. I am currently wearing Kenneth Field's easy pants, but sweatpants would be the easiest to match. Also, I think it is a good idea to use a sweatshirt parka instead of a shirt inside the jacket to create a sense of fluidity.

HAKASEAlmost everyone. When me and Banri (Kobayashi) were in junior high school, we skated together in the next class. When we entered high school, we made friends with skaters in Ina and Komagane (also in Nagano Prefecture) when we were thinking of making a video to be shown at the school festival. We started skating at different times, but we all moved to Tokyo, so we still skate together today.

HAKASEI don't do it at all. I think all skaters in Nagano don't do it. It's like they skate because they can skate the moment they leave home.

A couple of years ago, there was a big snowfall in Tokyo. Until then, only people who went to the mountains would buy shoes like the "Nupsi Series," but after the snow fell in Tokyo, they began to sell like hotcakes.

HAKASELong boots tend to look more serious, don't they? However, the short length can be worn as lightly as sneakers, and since the image of "THE NORTH FACE" is associated with winter, I think they are easy to wear even for people who have never worn snow boots before. Nowadays, sporty styles such as shakapan are popular on the streets, so I think they are easy to match with such items. Also, sweatpants are an ironclad choice.

HAKASEI have a sensitivity to cold. In winter, I can't feel my feet and it takes me a long time to skate, but these are really warm, so you might want to wear them before skating.

Last winter, a young pro skater from the U.S. came to visit me for about a month, and we skated together. If it were me, I would have to warm up for 2 to 30 minutes before I could perform, but he just went right into it like it didn't matter. I thought it was amazing.

HAKASEAfter skating, my socks get soaked, and it gets very cold. Also, there are days when I go skating at indoor skate parks even when it rains, but I don't want to get my skates wet before I get there, so I wear shoes that I don't mind getting wet. In that case, these (Nupsi Bootie Waterproof V Short) are waterproof and my feet don't get cold, so I can skate right away.

HAKASEIf a kid who only wears street skates wears these, it gives the impression that they know what they are doing. They would say, "I have other shoes, too, not just skate shoes. That's cool, isn't it?

Hama CenterI think black is probably the easiest color to wear in general, but I thought a lighter color would suit my style. So I chose beige because it was available. This subdued coloring makes them easy to use not only for outdoor activities, but also for everyday use.

Hama CenterNow that I am freelance, I use my home as my office, but NuPsi is so warm and stress-free that I feel like wearing it in the office. When I was at BEAMS, there was a battle between the hot and the cold during this time of year, so I think they are good for preventing the bottom chill in the winter.

Hama CenterI often make decisions based on shoes, such as "I will wear proper leather shoes today. When I buy a new pair of shoes, I especially decide what to do with them. I think they would look cute with slim pants, but they would be seen in the same way as sheepskin boots, so I recommend short length "nupsi booties" and wide pants. Also, since only the feet look big, it is a good idea to add volume to the top as well.

Hama CenterIt is also important to balance volume and length, and to wear makeup as tightly as possible in such a style, and also to try it on without thinking "this is a sports item" (laughs). (Laughs) In terms of shoes, there are heels, then sneakers, then "nupsi booties," and so on. If you start with the shoes in this way, you can enjoy the outfit as you normally would, since it is not a coordinated look for sports mixing.

Hama CenterIn my mind, "The North Face" itself has an image of fashion that is not only outdoorsy but also cultural, so perhaps it is natural for me to think of it that way. The wide width of these shoes makes them comfortable for Japanese people's feet, and they are non-stressful. I matched the color of the sole with the color of the knit today, and I think they will be useful both as a fashion item and as winter shoes.