FEATURE｜The creative label from New York tells us how to create the community of the future.
SPECIAL INTERVIEW FOR PARKS DEPARTMENT
A creative label from New York tells us how to build the community of the future.
As the Heisei Era draws to a close, Japan is entering a new era, known as "2025. Arthur, director of the New York-based creative label PARKS DEPARTMENT, tells us about the new community values that will become mainstream in the coming era. We also take a look back at the pop-up store event at BEAMS T in Harajuku, Tokyo, which was held for 10 days from March 15 (Fri.), and learn more about their mysterious creations.
Arthur Soleimanpour Arthur Soleiman Paul.(Director, PARKS DEPARTMENT)
Know Wave is an internet radio program based in New York City that provides information on various underground cultures. He is a co-founding member of this program and started the collective community label "PARKS DEPARTMENT" in 2016. While showing the way of new media through internet radio, his main activity is to create a platform where various cultures such as fashion, design, and music can meet and express themselves, which has already triggered various chemical changes in New York City, especially in youth culture. It has already triggered various chemical changes in New York City, especially in youth culture. In addition, while connecting with legendary key figures in New York, he hooks up with young talents on a daily basis and proposes creative ideas for a new era. He also works as a video director.
To do what you love and work with like-minded people, It's very healthy and fun.
First of all, please tell us about Arthur's past activities and how he came to create the "Parks Department" label.
Arthur.I originally started my career supporting the fashion brand of Russell Simmons, the founder of Def Jam. Later, while working in design at an office that had a liberal corporate culture, I began to explore different forms of creation. I came up with the idea of broadcasting live video as a personal activity. Visual production that converted movies used in fashion brand advertisements, etc., and Internet radio content. At the time, I felt it was full of possibilities, you know? Then in 2016, I started a label called Parks Departament.
What kind of activities does "Parks Department" actually do?
Arthur.The main content is live video production, but the activities vary. Parks Department" aims to be a community like a park, because it changes depending on the people who gather there. For example, we collaborate with brands to produce visual movies, create Internet radio programs together, and make T-shirts and other goods that are not for sale. Recently, I have been working with young friends in New York to organize a party event at a Chinese restaurant called "China Chalet" after it closes for the night. In New York City, where metabolism is fast-changing, the most popular places to hang out are constantly changing. Nowadays, it is popular to use such places for different purposes.
It is a new experiment that creations change depending on the people who gather, not on the content.
Arthur.I realized it was the most natural thing to do. In New York, where there are many creators and artists, they are always looking for new ways to work and express themselves, and keep updating themselves. It is totally different for each person. So there is no one right answer. It is very healthy and fun to do what you love and work with like-minded people, young people you want to hook up with, and veterans you respect.
There are always various creators and artists around Arthur, aren't there?
Arthur.That's right. In New York, if you have a common playground or a common language of creation, you are instantly connected. So the community naturally expands. Look Studio and Good Company, which have been making clothes together for a long time, are well known in Japan, aren't they? Also, Stretch Armstrong, the DJ who participated in the pop-up event at BEAMS T, Erik Elms, who runs the Powers brand, and Manon Macassaett, a model, are old friends.
How did you start planning the event you were hosting at "BEAMS T" this time?
Arthur.A mutual friend of ours connected us with BEAMS T and took notice of our activities and logo design. He said, 'We want to have an event at BEAMS T.' We were very excited about the idea. We thought it would be a good fit with our vision and the fact that BEAMS is well known in the U.S. We had a lot of discussions about what kind of content we wanted to do. I think we spent about a year on it.
It was a project that took a long time to realize. Was it difficult for Parks Department to organize an event in Japan for the first time?
Arthur.We are a creative label, not a fashion brand. Therefore, we had many difficulties in making clothes. Especially when it comes to quality, Japanese quality is the best in the world. It was sometimes difficult to clear this hurdle, but in the end we were able to overcome various obstacles thanks to the excellent staff at BEAMS. I am grateful for that.
That was good. What was it that "Parks Department" wanted to convey at this event?
Arthur.Although we are using the pop-up store format, selling items is just a bonus for us. Our main goal was to expand our community. In the future, we wanted to do this not only in New York, but also beyond the borders of the country. This time, we had Stretch Armstrong, who is older than me, Eric Elms, who is of the same generation, and Manon Macassaet, a teenager who is leading youth culture in New York City. And I thought it would be fun if it crossed national borders as well. I don't feel self-conscious about being a big-name creator, nor do I bemoan the fact that I can't keep up with the sensibilities of the younger generation. On the other hand, it would be nonsense to be excited only by our own generation. There is new value in things that are created by mixing everything together. That is my message for this event.
More adults should listen to young people. Because their voices are full of new discoveries and ideas.
So that's what you meant by a new way of community. I think this trend certainly has new possibilities for the future. In addition to the pop-up event, there were many other contents at this year's event.
Arthur.On the same day as the pop-up store at BEAMS T, Manon and X-Girl, with whom we have collaborated on several events, held an art exhibition, and as a special night event, we organized a party at Freedom in Shibuya that lasted until morning. A band called "Pretty Chic," featuring a girl named Sabrina, one of our friends, on vocals, performed, and cool DJs from Tokyo performed for all ages. It was an unforgettable night. The following week, I also did a two-day radio show at the Mustard Hotel. The first day we had Manon and Sabrina, and the second day we had Tokyo Vitamins, who we had heard were doing something similar to what we were doing in Tokyo. Tokyo Vitamins was an interesting crew.
They, too, have been active in Internet radio for some time now, and are at the center of today's Tokyo youth culture.
Arthur.Many of the members spoke English, so they had communities in various countries, and they were all very creative in their minds. On the day of the radio show, in addition to the regular members, friends of mine, such as illustrators, rappers, and female track makers, came and joined us as guests and played music that is popular in Tokyo at the moment. They have a New York sensibility that does not feel any hurdle in terms of nationality or generation. Next time I come to Japan, I would like to work with "Tokyo Vitamins" in a different way than this time.
It sounds like you had a good meeting and your visit to Japan was a great success.
Arthur.This was my fourth visit to Japan and the longest stay, and I enjoyed it very much. Whenever I come to Tokyo, everyone is always so kind to me. The streets of Shibuya and Harajuku are denser and more energetic than the chaos of New York City, and there are so many sensitive stores. I could spend every day here and never get tired of it. Also, my ex-wife was Japanese, and she used to take me to the university in Aoyama to eat at the school cafeteria, buy things, and taste Japanese food, which I love. I also liked the Great Buddha in Kamakura. I was very satisfied.
During your visit to Japan, where you had a lot of interaction with people, did you notice any differences between Tokyo and New York in terms of the community and creativity of creators?
Arthur.I felt that all youth in Tokyo are hungry for creativity. I heard that many of them are communicating themselves through media such as SNS and Youtube, but some of them are trying to get away from that environment. I wish there was an environment that would hook up more with such talented young people. New York never shuts out such young creators. Of course, not everyone has a chance, but it is the city with the most developed environment that facilitates the activities of such creators. As the city revitalizes and the economy grows, I hope that more people and companies will be able to support such fields.
I think so. Arthur himself embodies such activities, doesn't he?
Arthur.There is much to be gained from young talent in particular. This is not limited to the fields of fashion, art and music. Adults should listen to their voices more. Their voices are full of new discoveries and ideas.
Finally, what do you see for the future of Arthur himself and "Parks Department"?
Arthur.I, as well as Parks Department Store, value a sense of speed and constant activity. In this day and age, when things are so volatile and influenced by the constant flow of information, it is important to nurture our culture at our own pace. A world where everyone can share a sustainable mindset, not for money, is a world of peace. In the near future, I plan to post articles about the radio show recorded at "Mustard Hotel" on the official Parks Department website and my SNS account. I will also be sending a little bit of this label's merchandise to areas of need in order to fund my activities. Creations that will never be consumed as a fad are just as fast as walking around a country town looking at the scenery.
