First Down and the 90's. Vol.03 SUGI / Illustrator
FIRST DOWN, a brand of down jackets born in the U.S. in the 1980s, was loved by famous NBA players and hip-hop artists in the 1990s and rapidly spread among young people who were their followers. FREAK'S STORE" has released items that capture the atmosphere of those days. . In conjunction with "GIRLHNHNM's," the younger sister of HOUYHNHNM, we asked a total of four people who would look good in these items to appear in this issue. The third interview is with SUGI, an illustrator active in magazines and various events, who was born in 1990 and talked about his image of the 90s and how he felt when wearing the "First Down" items.
Born in 1990 , in Mie Prefecture. Moved to Tokyo when he was a student, and after graduation worked at a T-shirt printing studio. After graduation, he started his own business as an illustrator. Currently, he does illustrations for magazines and live painting at events.
. I feel the spirit of moving forward in the 90s.
When did you start painting, SUGI?
SUGII have been drawing ever since I can remember. . I just doodled in my notebooks. It was my life's work, or rather, it was a part of my daily life.
Did you aspire to be an illustrator?
SUGINo , not really. After graduating from college, I worked for a manufacturer that mainly printed T-shirts. It was a store that took orders for silk screen prints and the like. While I was looking at various designs there, I decided that I wanted to create something like a work of art myself. Many of my friends from school were involved in music, so I thought I could do something together with them.
Are they members of Candy Town?
SUGIYes . . I spent a lot of time with them, going to events at night and skateboarding. We had a lot in common in what we liked to do, we knew a lot of things, and it was fun to exchange information.
Have your experiences as a student had a significant impact on your illustrations?
SUGISometimes I do, and sometimes I get inspiration from completely different places. . I go to various exhibitions and look at books for input.
Looking at SUGI's illustrations, I feel the scent of the 90's and an analog mood.
SUGI. I like to go to used bookstores, where I see interesting things, collect stories, and collage various elements in my head.
What culture was your main influence?
SUGII have been skateboarding since I was in junior high school, so I love skate culture. I love the skate culture, especially around "ZOOYORK" in the 90s, and Mark Gonzalez is a big part of it. I also listened to hip-hop music of the time, and I would go home and look up what my friends told me on YouTube. . I enjoyed digging for old stuff rather than contemporaneous stuff.
SUGIProbably because of my parents' influence, I had old CDs at home and listened to them all the time. When I went to karaoke in junior high and high school, everyone sang the popular songs of the time, but I only sang nostalgic melodies from the 90s (laughs). When I entered college, all my friends around me knew a lot of old songs like me, and we became closer and closer.
Do you have some sort of admiration for the 90s?
SUGII think there is. I sense a curiosity about new things, and an energy to move forward into the 2000s. I feel that kind of spirit in any culture.
The charm of first down is that you can wear it without feeling self-conscious about anything.
What are your influences in fashion?
SUGIMark Gonzalez, after all. He wears a sweatshirt and loose-fitting pants, and looks really simple but cool! I admire him not only as a fashion icon, but also as an icon. I admire him as an icon, and not just in fashion.
He said that he admires a person's own kind of style, rather than the clothes he wears or the odd combination of clothes.
SUGIYes, that's right. I think it's cool that they are just being themselves without being uptight, rather than being rigidly formal. I would like to be like that.
Has it always been that way?
SUGIMy first taste of fashion was when I saw hip-hop music videos and thought they looked cool, so I started copying them. From there, I became more and more interested in the skater's style, wearing plain T-shirts with work pants.
Is there anything you value in fashion to express your personality?
SUGIColors. . I have thought since I was a student that there are certain colors that suit me. I am dark, so darker and darker colors suit me better than lighter colors. I pay attention to such things as using a hint of color.
We hope you enjoyed this look at the items from "First Down" this time.
SUGII thought it was nice that they were not so uptight. It seems to blend in easily with the city. The fact that you can easily wear it without worrying about anything is very attractive. Also, I could tell at a glance that it looked very warm (laughs).
By the way, did you know about the "First Down" brand?
SUGI. I didn't know that. . but I have seen the logo in thrift stores, and when I heard that it was a cool brand in New York in the 90's, I was intrigued.
What was your impression when you actually tried it on?
SUGI. I could tell when I was wearing it that it felt like it was packed with down. . And, of course, I thought it was very warm (laughs). Both items have a sense of volume, and I feel the 90's style in them. Also, the logo has the same mood of the time.
FREAK'S STORE × FIRST DOWN reversible bubble down ¥29,800＋TAX（ONLINE STORE)
For the first outfit, I was asked to wear a white down. Why did you choose this item?
SUGII sometimes like to try on clothes that I wouldn't normally choose myself. This item has inspired me to do so (laughs). It's reversible, so it's good value for money, and it's nice, isn't it?
What did you keep in mind when coordinating?
SUGI. Since the white color stands out quite a bit, I matched it with other subdued colors. The slacks give it a mature look.
FREAK'S STORE × FIRST DOWN] Short Down ¥29,800＋TAX（ONLINE STORE)
How about another item?
SUGIIt's a solid design, so it's an item that you can just throw on when you go out without thinking about anything else. Also, I thought it looked like something you would see in a hip-hop music video (laughs).
. Finally, please tell us about the key points of coordination.
SUGI. I was thinking of the skaters of the 90s. . Like wearing a sweatshirt and thick pants. But it would be boring as it is, so I used knitwear as the innerwear and classic shoes to give it a stylish atmosphere (laughs).
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