A select store buyer's view of Paris and Fashion Week 2019 AW.

Even before I became a buyer, I used to go to Paris on a regular basis because I personally exhibited at Sneakerness, a convention where sneakers are exhibited and traded. Sneaker fever is high in Europe, and these events are frequently held in various places and are very exciting. Since I became a buyer for "BEAMS," I have visited Paris about twice a year for purchasing. The community that I have built through sneakers, such as the "Paperboy" café that I work with on pop-up events, is also useful in my current job.

The installation by STUDIO ALCH, a brand I have always been interested in, was a real hit. The designer, Alex, is supported by Nike and is a very famous woman in the sneaker culture. I have personally been following her movements on Instagram and other social media, but after meeting her in person and talking with her, I was more drawn into her worldview.

In terms of actual creativity, he makes knitwear from socks, remakes bags into vests, and other interesting things. He himself is also very fashionable and has excellent taste, for example, in how he matches sneakers with accessories and how he chooses socks. I can relate to all of his activities and creativity, and he is a brand to look out for. We are pleased to announce that the brand will be available at "BEAMS" from the 2019 AW season. This is a brand that hasn't been introduced much in Japan until now, so I hope you'll look forward to it."

It's not the same as a permanent store, but I was lucky enough to see a pop-up of a collaborative collection by Matthew M. Williams and Nike while I was in Paris, and I really enjoyed it. I had missed out on something I wanted the previous season, so I made a mad dash to the store in between my buying schedule (laughs). I was also impressed by the fact that the store was filled with famous influencers.

As for the items, the collection was full of surprises and I learned a lot from all of them. The designs have impact to accentuate your coordinates, but on the other hand, they are also firmly practical. The items I actually purchased were very useful even during the big cold spell in New York, where I was headed after Paris."

I highly recommend all of the menu items. Not only is it delicious, but the colorful combinations of ingredients are a delight to look at. The atmosphere of the restaurant is great, and the staff is warm and welcoming, which keeps me coming back.

It is also a hangout for fashionable people in Paris, such as fashion insiders and influencers, and a source of information on trends. During Fashion Week, even Virgil and others seem to come here. It is a place where you can enjoy real Parisian fashion and coordination.

The cafe I recommended earlier, Paperboy, and BEAMS held a pop-up for the second time, this time in June of last year. This event came about because James, the owner of Paperboy, and I are friends. I had always liked the "Paperboy" logo and was interested in the T-shirts and bags worn by the staff, so I thought it would be fun to do something together.

We can't publicly announce it yet, but we have some interesting plans for the next one, so please look forward to it. Oh yeah, "Paperboy" is going to open a new store called "Paper Burger," which will mainly feature sweets, so please check it out as well.

Bizvim," which I personally like and wear often, was as good as ever. The "Indigo Camping Trailer" exhibition, in which vintage camping trailers were brought to Paris, was a highlight. It is not a "See now, Buy now," but it was interesting to see how the items seen at the show were delivered the following month, giving it a live feel. I don't have to tell you, the quality of the craftsmanship is outstanding.

In contrast, the opposite creation, "THE ROW," was also wonderful. The ROW is a brand created by the Olsen sisters, who are American celebrities, and uses luxurious materials such as cashmere, for example, without hesitation to create extremely luxurious clothes. The men's line has just started in earnest with the 2019SS, but the number of models and range had been expanded, further increasing the appeal of the brand.

Both earthy and contemporary creations are completely different, but if I were to venture to find common ground, I would say that they are both very thorough in their craftsmanship. They have a clear sense of aesthetics, and even just by looking at the presentation, it is easy to understand what they are trying to convey. I am attracted to brands that have a sense of their own identity and creation.

First, visit the bookshop run by Yvon Lambert, a long-established gallery that leads the contemporary art scene in Paris. In addition to a selection of photography and art-related books, the shop also carries a wide range of vintage posters and original goods. There is also a gallery in the back of the store, where exhibitions are held on a regular basis.

It is one of my favorite stores because everything they carry is really tasteful. We are currently holding a pop-up store for "Yvon Lambert" at "Biotope. We have created limited items such as T-shirts and tote bags for this event, so don't miss it."

One of them is Galerie Patrick Seguin, a world-renowned gallery that features furniture by Jean Prouvé, Pierre Jeanneret, Charlotte Perriand, and others. It is a world-renowned gallery that sells furniture by Jean Prouvé, Pierre Jeanneret, and Charlotte Perriand. While there are many fakes of these pieces of furniture on the market today, the pieces sold here come with a pedigree, and are all trustworthy. You can learn a lot just by looking at them. The recently opened "Biotope Fukuoka" is also elaborate in its fixtures, using Jeanneret furniture and other items in the store, so you can use it as a reference for your layout.

First of all, this is my second repeat visit to CLOVERGRILL. The beef marrow is simply superb. Some people have a negative impression of bone marrow because of the problem it caused in the U.S. a while ago, but in Paris, there is no such tendency at all. It is what is called "oil," but it is best eaten with bread. It's almost like the sweet part of hormone oil in yakiniku (grilled meat). All the other meats here are delicious as well, so I highly recommend it. The place is located in Saint-Honoré. It is near the Pompidou Center.

The other is a wine bar called SEPTIME LA CAVE. It is run by SEPTIME, a popular restaurant in Paris where reservations are hard to get. The snacks supervised by "SEPTIME" are delicious, and I like naturals, so I often go there. I especially recommend the orange wine. It's a stand-up bar, and it's always very crowded, but there are always good wines there. And it's cheap."

A joint party of Virgil Abloh and Undercover was held at CONCRETE in Paris during Fashion Week, and Thom Yorke appeared as a special guest. He came out as a secret DJ early in the event, but because it was so sudden, there were no people on the floor at all, and I was able to see him from the far left in front. It was a rare opportunity to see Thom Yorke that close up, so it was a valuable experience."

The number of items has increased compared to the 2019SS, and there were many items that caught my attention. While he offers well-tailored British tailored clothes and silk shirts made in the same factory as a certain maison brand, there are also casual items such as tracksuits. His one-of-a-kind collection that combines his roots, Frenchness, and even delinquent nature is remarkable. Brands with this kind of swing are surprisingly rare. I felt Sharaf's seriousness.

Although it is now gaining momentum mainly among highly sensitive people and people in the fashion industry, we feel that there is still room for growth. We will continue to launch the brand at "UNITED ARROWS & SONS". There are still some rough edges, but if we can keep the same atmosphere, I am sure we can turn this into an even more interesting brand.

THE NEXT DOOR" is a boutique originally located in Avignon, a regional city in France, which opened in Paris in 2019. Under the store concept of "street basics," the store selects OAMC, Marni, and Casablanca, while Braindead, Stussy, and Stone Island are lined up in the same row. As for Japanese brands, "Comme des Garcons" and "Bizbim" are among the selections.

The product mix is a good combination of Parisian elegance and street style, and I think it accurately captures the current fashion atmosphere. I also went to the opening reception before and saw many young people and felt the new wave of fashion. It is located in Republic.

I was honestly worried about the food (laughs). During my stay at Fashion Week, I had an appointment every 30 minutes, so I didn't have time to have a leisurely meal. If I had to pick one place, I would say BOOTS CAFÉ in the Marais.

The Marais is an area where showrooms and exhibition halls are concentrated, so you can kill time between appointments. The taste of the quaint storefront combined with the modern interior is interesting. The coffee is delicious, using "Fuglen" as in "UA Bar". On Instagram, despite being a café, it is interesting to see political messages being emitted, so I tend to check it out."

First of all, "POGGY'S BOX," an exhibition by Ogi, director of United Arrows & Sons, was a personal project. Based on the concept of introducing good Japanese things through Ogi's filter, the exhibition featured brand selections and items that only Ogi could make, such as denim painted by Jun Inagawa, jackets by "Auralee" and "5525 Gallery," and remake items by "Miyagi-Hidetaka. I picked up and edited them. I am proud that my seniors are doing this kind of activity, and above all, I am once again amazed by Ogi's ability to communicate and make proposals.

The installation of KAR, an apparel brand of L'Art de L'Automobile, a dealer specializing in artistic luxury cars for celebrities from all over the world, was also wonderful. The installation by KAR, an apparel brand of L'Art de L'Automobile, was also wonderful. The brand offers graphic T-shirts and other items with car motifs, but it has an interesting perspective that is different from that of fashion brands, and above all, the way it explores culture is truly amazing. When it comes to car-related culture, I don't think anyone else can express it better than they can. The exhibition hall, which was designed to look like a gas station, was very thorough with displays of oil and car wash products, and the interior was decorated in Jean Prouvé's style. I am always amazed at the thoroughness of the exhibition, which is not half-hearted.