FEATURE| An industry insider talks about . Why do you care about Munsingwear?
WHY Munsingwear? VOL.1
Industry insiders talk it all out. Why you should care about Munsingwear.
Munsingwear, known for its penguin logo, is the vanguard of a new symbolic icon. What is the reason why Munsingwear, which started out as an underwear manufacturer and established its popularity as the world's first golf wear brand, is now making its presence felt on the fashion scene? Three industry professionals (stylist, editor, and model) will talk about the brand's synonymous item, the polo shirt, to find out.
Hajime Suzuki / Stylist Born in 1976 . . Born in Aichi Prefecture. After graduating from university, worked for a major apparel manufacturer before starting his career as a stylist in 2005. He has worked mainly for men's fashion magazines, brand catalogs, and advertisements. He was also a soccer fanatic during his school days and continues to put his experience to good use by styling professional athletes. His latest hobby is golf.
Chie Arakawa / Editor Born in 1979 . . Born in Saitama Prefecture. After graduating from university, worked as an editor for a women's magazine before joining artico, which operates the sports lifestyle media "onyourmark" and "mark" magazine. She is also involved in the management of the company's new media "Perfect Day," which was launched last year. In her private life, she loves surfing and running, and leads an active lifestyle in both her personal and professional life.
Yusuke Hirayama / Model Born in 1970 . Born in Saitama Prefecture. After graduating from college, she went to France in 1995, aspiring to become a world-class model, even though she once worked for a company. He made his modeling debut at a men's collection in Paris. After participating in collections in Paris, Milan, New York, and other countries around the world, he moved his base of activities to Japan in 2003, where he has been active as a model and actor. He is currently a main model for the magazine "OCEANS" and is scheduled to appear in the TXN drama "The Butler: Saionji's Mystery," which will start on April 13 at 8:00 p.m. on ( Friday, ).
The logo on the polo shirt indicates the brand's heritage .
First of all, what kind of brand image do you have of Munsingwear?
SuzukiIn my case, I have had the opportunity to see the items in person at exhibitions, etc. , so I am familiar with the brand. While you specialize in golf wear, you have a particularly strong image of polo shirts, don't you?
wild or untamed riverThe penguin logo pops, but the brand actually has the image of a classic brand, doesn't it? . It has a long history.
flatlandIt has a long history. The brand has been around since my parents' generation, after all. I also have a strong impression of their polo shirts. They come in a wide variety of colors, and there is a lot to choose from.
Do you usually have many opportunities to wear polo shirts?
flatland. I totally wear them. As I get older, I naturally reach for polo shirts . I feel that it is easier to get used to polo shirts than when I was younger.
SuzukiIt's clean and can be worn in place of a shirt. What about women?
wild or untamed riverIt's not an item that women are very familiar with, but it's easy to match with sporty styling and the like. Personally, I have fond memories of using them when PUFFY debuted (laughs).
flatlandLike to match it with denim?
SuzukiIf such an iconic person wears it, it is easy to get an image of him or her.
wild or untamed riverAlso, I used to play tennis as a student, and I used to wear polo shirts as my uniform for matches. It is rare to see top female athletes wearing polo shirts at major tournaments such as Grand Slam tournaments, but when I saw them wearing polo shirts, I thought they looked cool. So, if I were to play tennis as a hobby, I would want to wear something classy and classic like a polo shirt.
flatlandI play golf as a hobby, and I wear a 100% polo shirt when I play golf.
The penguin logo has become a striking icon among Munsingwear polo shirts, what is your impression of it?
flatlandIn the case of polo shirts, the logo should be attached to the shirt, or at least I would like it to be attached to the shirt. Even if it is just a single point, I think that the logo carries the tradition and history of the brand, and I hope that it will always remain unchanged.
SuzukiI think you may be right. There's a perception of a one-point logo on a polo shirt as a matter of course.
wild or untamed riverIt would be interesting, though, if the motif could be changed slightly in color and size, even if the motif remains the same.
Daring to wear a polo shirt is a seasonal way of wearing polo shirts.
For example, what kind of styling would you enjoy if you were to wear polo shirts from now on?
SuzukiIn terms of one suggestion, in the adult-oriented media I usually work with, I would like to suggest a style that goes with the jacket.
flatlandThat's not only for holidays, but also for business occasions and so on.
SuzukiMm-hm . In the last few years, more and more people are actually dressing like that, and it seems to fit even better if you live an urban lifestyle.
flatlandIf it were me, I would wear a polo shirt on top with a slightly larger size pants. I would wear sandals on my feet and keep it casual.
SuzukiThe polo shirt is tight, and the pants can be a little loose to balance it out.
wild or untamed riverWhat do you think about actually wearing it, Hajime?
SuzukiI would also like to wear polo shirts with track pants and other seasonal sports-style items, just as if I were wearing polo shirts out of fashion.
flatlandAh , that's nice. It certainly seems to be a very current way of dressing, and I think I can propose it to young people as well. How about you, Mr. Arakawa?
wild or untamed river. I ... on the contrary, I would like Hajime-san to suggest how women should dress (laughs).
SuzukiThat's a bit reckless (laughs). But if I were to make a suggestion, for example, I think it would be cute if you wore it in a larger size, like a dress. Also, it would be interesting to tie the hem around the stomach and wear it with high-waisted pants to make it look a bit sexier.
wild or untamed riverI see . That's cute. If you wear it short, you can enjoy wearing it with a long skirt, and even girls can wear polo shirts without any resistance.
flatlandDenim and polo shirts go well together, after all.
wild or untamed riverYes, I agree. Polo shirts are versatile and versatile.
SuzukiThat is exactly the one word that sums it up (laughs).
You can never have too many basic white polo shirts.
What are your impressions of the materials, etc., after actually seeing and touching some of the items you have on hand?
flatlandFrom stretchy fabrics to classic synthetic fiber fabrics that look like "the polo shirt," you can feel the range of variations.
wild or untamed river. I am personally happy with the organic cotton model. . I think the recent trend is that women also tend to choose items that have a clear view of the background of the material.
flatlandIt's the same with food, isn't it? And I think that will be the condition of choice.
wild or untamed river. It also conveys the company's socially-contributing attitude.
SuzukiIndeed . And that would be the color of the brand. From my professional point of view , I'm interested in the pile model.
wild or untamed riverThat is cute , isn't it? It's designed in a way that even women can easily pick it up and would probably want to wear it if it were in a set-up.
There are also shorts in the same fabric, and they are also available as a set-up.
wild or untamed riverOooh . Then I can wear it as loungewear.
flatlandI like the shorts. I can wear them after surfing or training without hesitation.
Suzuki. The range of styling will inevitably expand.
The wide variety of colors is one of Munsingwear's most attractive features.
And even the same white polo shirt can have a thousand different details and particulars.
SuzukiYou can tell that they are as particular about each button as they are about the material. Unlike ordinary polo shirts, these shirts are sewn with raglan sleeves.
flatlandSome of the collars are also ratio-winged , which is very clever.
wild or untamed riverAt first glance, the item looks simple, but upon closer inspection, one can see that there are differences among them, which can be said to be a favorite of connoisseurs.
flatlandYes, yes, yes. I think that white polo shirts, like shirts, are good to have in one's wardrobe. I think it would be useful to be able to enjoy the differences among them.
SuzukiIt also makes you feel more luxurious than if you had a lot of patterned or colored items.
flatlandIf you want to be extravagant, it is not bad to always wear a new polo shirt, but from a masculine point of view, since it is a basic polo shirt, it is also possible to wear it until it is shabby and enjoy the changes it undergoes over time.
Suzuki. in the same way as denim or leather shoes.
wild or untamed river. Even if the collar is a little bit shabby, it can be a bit of an artifact.
flatlandIt is a brand that my father's generation also wore, and I am finally beginning to realize its appeal at my age, so it would be wonderful if I could pass it on to my parents and their children for generations to come.
SuzukiIt would be great if not only the logo but also the item itself becomes a continuation of the tradition.
Furthermore, the variety of colors other than the primary colors is another characteristic of Munsingwear polo shirts.
SuzukiI didn't realize there were so many. There are some unexpectedly aggressive color schemes. This green is fresh and nice.
flatlandThat's unusual, isn't it? I am often recommended pink and other women's colors at stores, but they are surprisingly easy to match. The impression varies depending on the shade, though.
wild or untamed riverI see! Surprising.
Suzuki. There are already several models of the same color that are available in different shades.
wild or untamed riverAlso, if we could see a wide variety of colorful polo shirts in stores, like a visual color palette, we would be more motivated to buy.
flatlandThe same is true of the standard white polo shirt, but that same bright color scheme and pop image is also a part of Munshingwear's appeal.
SuzukiIndeed, if you think about it, golf wear has an image of many items with flashy color schemes, doesn't it?
flatlandYes, that's right. On the other hand, monotone colors and patterns are more out of place. Vibrant colors and patterns look great in a golf setting, don't they?
SuzukiAnd color matching with the logo is also a key point.
wild or untamed river. It would be nice to match them with the same color.
flatlandI'm curious what kind of discussions are going on at the brand side of the meeting (laughs).
SuzukiSounds interesting! I'd love to have the opportunity to join you if I ever get the chance (laughs).
