A new generation of sneaker freaks talks about the hidden potential of Sergio Tacchini.
Sergio Tacchini, perhaps because he was born in Italy, has developed elegant sportswear that skillfully combines elegance with vivid creations that make extensive use of color. Did you know that this spirit is not only applied to apparel, but also to shoes? For fall/winter 2018, Sergio Tacchini is reissuing a model from the 1980s. The collection is a collection of gems that skillfully fuse a somewhat retro design with the Sergio Tacchini style. BB (Bibi), a sneaker freak and director of the MFC STORE in Nakameguro, inspected the brand's sneakers. Having held a variety of items in his hands, how does "Sergio Tacchini" look in his eyes?
Born in Osaka Prefecture, he has been spreading the appeal of sneakers on SNS and boasts more than 49,000 followers on Instagram. Currently, he is the director of the MFC Store in Nakameguro, and has also launched his own brand, "IXAMPLE," and is active in many other fields.
Instagram:@bb_lion625
. he wore a different pair of sneakers every day when he went to work.
BB, you are currently the director of the "MFC Store" and a producer for "IXAMPLE," both of which you started only recently, right?
B.B.IXAMPLE" celebrated its first anniversary this past August, and "MFC Store" opened in May of this year with an acquaintance.
What were you doing before that?
B.B.. I was working as a regular company employee in Osaka. When an acquaintance asked me if I wanted to set up a store with him, I was troubled, but I still decided to go to Tokyo. I had been working at a stable job until then, and my friends repeatedly told me that it would be a waste of time (laughs).
What made you decide to come to Tokyo?
B.B.I had been working as an office worker and running "IXAMPLE" since I was in Osaka, but I thought I could put more effort into the brand, and that was a big factor. I thought that by coming to Tokyo, I would be able to reach even more people.
You have been posting information on YOUTUBE and Instagram since you were in Osaka. What was it that made you start doing that?
B.B.My friend SOSHI MUZIC originally had a YOUTUBE channel called "SOSHI-NET. At first, I was introducing sweets and other things from around the world, but then he suggested that I make a video about sneakers and related topics. When we uploaded the video, the number of views jumped, and since then, we have been planning sneaker and fashion-related videos together.
Soshi used to be a colleague of mine, but I always wore different sneakers when I went to work. He noticed that and we became friends.
Did you gain followers on Instagram because of YOUTUBE?
B.B.I think so. But I did make an effort to take pictures that only I could take. I try to take pictures that are a little ambiguous, whether they were taken with a smartphone or a single-lens reflex camera. Actually, I take all the pictures with my iPhone and process them, but I try to make them in such a way that you can't tell how I took them, and I use not only the sneakers but also the way I take the pictures as a gateway to communication.
. it's not that they look attractive because they are rare sneakers.
BB, how did you come to love sneakers?
B.B.When I entered junior high school, I joined the basketball team and went shopping with my father for sneakers to wear for club activities. I bought a signature model of a famous NBA player, and the store clerk told me that it was a model of a label within a sports brand. I got more and more into sneakers after I learned that there were various types of sneakers. I started looking at magazines and checking out the bashes that my seniors were wearing.
At that time, even the Internet was not yet widespread?
B.B.Yes . So my source of information was magazines. . I studied fashion as well as shoes. . I also went to the American Village and talked with the store clerks. To get the sneakers I wanted, I had to become friends with the store clerks before I could buy them. I had to ask them to put them on layaway or something.
Is there a particular brand or model that you like?
B.B.I don't really have a preference for one thing in particular, and in a good sense, I may be an omnivore. My standard is whether something fits me or not, so if I like it, I buy it, and if not, I don't. I try not to think, "This brand has this taste. I try not to think, "This brand has this kind of taste. . I try to enjoy fashion and sneakers as neutrally as possible.
And without much regard for values, such as "this is rare?"
B.B.. Naturally, I think that rare sneakers will attract attention. And just because someone is wearing them, it draws attention to their feet. . However, I don't think it's a good idea to get carried away with it. If my own individuality is lost in the sneakers, I feel that would be the end of the world. . Therefore, I don't buy sneakers just because they are rare.
You have unwavering values.
B.B.I don't think that wearing cool and rare sneakers necessarily improves a person's own attractiveness. If that is the case, I think it is more attractive to wear sneakers that you like and clothes that you like, because you can be yourself. . I think it would be better if they were rare based on the premise that you like them.
To begin with, what kind of culture has influenced you, BB?
B.B.R&B and hip-hop have been a big influence on me . I have always loved watching music videos, and even before there was Youtube, I used to watch MTV like I was devouring it. I would look at the clothes and sneakers and think to myself, "What are those shoes? I would look them up myself. However, I didn't want to copy an artist's style completely.
What does that mean?
B.B.After all, everyone imitates the style of influential artists, and it is no good to be the same as everyone else. I think it is important to digest the style in one's own way after being influenced by it. For example, when hip-hop artists wear necklaces around their necks, they do so for a reason. But I didn't do that because I didn't think it was appropriate if I applied it to myself. I think there is something wrong with accepting something just because it is fashionably cool. I value my own culture, background, and values above all else.
. There is originality in the volume and the use of parts.
How do you view current trends in the sneaker scene?
B.B.I think this can be said of fashion as a whole, but nowadays, high fashion brands and street brands are all mixed up together. Whenever a new topic arises, both brands are all over it. A good example of this might be the "dado" sneaker.
It's released by every brand.
B.B.I sense an atmosphere of freedom that transcends boundaries, but I feel that originality is fading. Everything looks the same. The playing field used to be different. I think that high fashion brands had their own role to play, and street fashion had its own role to play. I am not denying the current situation, but my impression is that, for better or worse, everything looks the same now.
What role do you think Sergio Tacchini plays in this?
B.B.It has a very 80's scent, doesn't it? When I saw these shoes and clothes, I simply thought they would fit in with the current trend. On a personal note, I like shakashaka blousons and set-ups, so I honestly thought that I would like to wear both the shoes and the clothes.
Did you always know about Sergio Tacchini?
B.B.I think Chris Brown was wearing it at a concert, and that's how I found out about it. In the 90s, artists wore items from various sports brands, not just Sergio Tacchini. Among them, this brand is old-fashioned in a good sense.
Do you mean that it looks somewhat old-school?
B.B.Yes, it does. It has a somewhat retro atmosphere. I like the mood of these items, as if they are reprints of designs from a bygone era. I don't think it's easy to find something like this in second-hand clothing.
From left to right: [Sergio Tacchini] PRIME SHOT PONY ¥15,000+TAX, PRIME SHOT REVIEW ¥15,000
From left to right: 〈Sergio Tacchini〉PRIME SHOT MID NYC ¥13,000＋TAX , PRIME SHOT MID DENIM ¥13,000＋TAX
What were your first impressions when you saw the sneakers?
B.B.I heard that this is a reissue of a tennis shoe from the 80's, but it reminds me of a bash. I think that many bash shoes of that time had this kind of design. The volume and the way the parts are used, it seems a bit nostalgic. They look very easy to wear.
When you say "easy to wear", do you mean in terms of comfort? Or do you mean in terms of ease of incorporation?
B.B.Both. Sneakers come in a variety of designs, but I believe that the best sneakers are those that can be worn on a daily basis.
If you don't wear them, they are useless.
B.B.. Yes, that's right. Of course, there are sneakers that are worn occasionally to spice up one's mood, but I think these shoes are designed for everyday wear. They have just the right amount of volume, and I like the way they look. I think that having volume on the feet helps to balance out the whole body.
I see.
B.B.Also, I think that once upon a time, sneakers cost more money than modern sneakers. Like these shoes, there are many parts that don't make sense (laughs). . That's what I like about them, they look like they took a lot of time and effort to make.
In the 80s and 90s, there were many designs like this.
B.B.For what it's worth, everyone wears sneakers made by the 90s a lot. Perhaps it is simply because they are easy to incorporate. There was originality in the forms and designs unique to that era, and that trend continues to this day. There is a strength in the originality of these sneakers.
Finally, you chose denim fabric items today. What were you conscious of in coordinating them?
B.B.. I have matched it with a tricolor jersey to create a sense of color unity. I think navy, red, and white is the most balanced color scheme. It's a color scheme that feels comfortable and easy to pick up. Also, these shoes have a leopard print, which is very Osaka-like. I thought I could express my personality in that way (laughs).
