HOUYHNHNM's Editors Keisuke Kimura
PROFILE
Born in Rausu, Hokkaido , in 1986. After working for an outdoor manufacturer and a travel-related editorial production company, he joined HOUYHNHNM's editorial team in 2018. . His hobby is cooking. He loves nothing better than spending time chopping vegetables into small pieces while listening to his favorite radio. . His specialty is nyumen, which is noodles in a broth made from kombu (kelp) and katsuo (bonito).
Instagram:@kim.ksk
What kind of image do you have of "Vans"?
The first thing that comes to mind is skaters. I have the image of cool skaters wearing "Vans. Also, I have a strong impression that Vans is a brand that is supported by a wide range of people, from clothes lovers to the general public.
Do you remember the first time you wore Vans?
When I was in junior high school, I adored the checkerboard-patterned "SLIP-ON" I saw in a magazine. However, I grew up in Rausu-cho, Hokkaido, and there were no SLIP-ONs sold in my hometown. So when my sister went to Sapporo, she bought me a pair of "Vans" for the first time in my life. I wore them to school.
What memories do you have of Vans?
Five years ago, when I went to Minneapolis in Minnesota, U.S.A. for my previous job, the sneakers I was wearing broke and I bought "AUTHENTIC" at a local select store in a hurry. We walked together in the U.S. for a long time. By the way, I am wearing them today. The cork insole is comfortable, and the lining has a border pattern, so even the parts you can't see are stylish.
What are the key points of customized design?
First of all, the concept of "Vans", "OFF THE WALL" (breaking the mold), was set as the keyword for the design. I thought that it would not be possible to break the mold by simply using a single color, and as a result, the "Ainu pattern," an ethnic pattern of the Ainu people, from whom I am originally descended, flashed across my mind. I hope that people around the world will know about it. No context ....
What will you do with the $25,000 prize money?
Well...3 million yen . First, I will pay about 2.5 million yen to the senior members of the editorial department (laughs). With the other 500,000 yen, I can buy, drink, and eat.
Click here to see the designs entered.
https://custom-culture.vans.com/ja_jp/design?submission_id=58124
