PROFILE
After working as a buyer for a vintage store in Harajuku, he started "Flagstaff" in 2014. He started "Flagstaff" in 2014 after working as a vintage shop buyer in Harajuku, Tokyo.
www.flagstuff.jp
I wanted to create a place where people would know that it's not just about graphics.
A: Out of the blue, why did you decide to open a flagship store at this time?
To begin with, the idea of owning an actual store itself was not really on my mind, but I happened to be passing by this location when I came across a store that was being demolished. When I asked the construction company about it, they told me that the next round had not been decided yet. So I decided to give it a try, and surprisingly, I got the job without a hitch. That is how we opened the shop.
I see, so it just happened to be the right time. But what is the advantage of having a physical store when there are so many dealers, starting with major select stores, as well as your own e-commerce site?
In the case of our company, since we have been selling our products in many select stores, the image of "Flagstaff" as a graphic brand tends to precede our products. That is why we wanted to create a place where people can actually hold our other items in their hands and see that we also make them well. That is why we wanted to create a place where people can actually hold the other items in their hands and learn about the quality of our products. We also wanted to have a physical store that offers a full lineup of products so that people can get a deeper understanding of the brand's worldview.
Can you tell us again about the concept of the shop?
The concept of the gray and white interior is "clean. The only so-called "fixtures" are movable boxes, and the rest is made up of bars suspended from the ceiling by wires. All of these can be removed, or, conversely, spotlights can be attached to the rails, allowing for a flexible layout for photo exhibitions, pop-ups, and other events. I imagine it can also function as a kind of gallery space. Another key point is the open ceiling height.
It looks simple, but actually the attention to detail is amazing.
The store sign on the entrance door and the word "PRIVATE" inside the store were all painted by Masa Sculp. The leather cash tray was custom-made by "blackmeans. The sound system uses speakers modeled after those made by JBL about 50 years ago. While the original speakers were made of plywood, these speakers are made of a single piece of wood. This allows for a thicker sound. The record player is a Garrard (Garrard ) "401", and the amplifier is an "ALTEC", which is often used in churches on the west coast of the United States.
By the way, where did the name "Four Store" come from?
In my life, the number "4" is often associated with me. For example, I was born on the 14th, I like Black Flag (*four lines in the band's logo) and Aphex Twin (*they have a song titled "4"), and when I put many things together, the keyword that came to mind was "4. 4". Also, in the store, we are developing "Flagstaff," "Delivery Hells," vintage archives, and another story that is in the planning stage, and together they will be the four pillars of the store. That's what it means.
One of the store's unique features is the vintage archive that lines the right side of the entrance. Every one of them is said to be a coveted treasure for enthusiasts.
The band T-shirts on display are from my own personal collection, or items that I searched for and purchased in the U.K. and U.S. for the opening of the store. Among them, the two pieces by Butthole Surfers and Redd Kross (*third and fourth pieces from the right in the upper row of photos) will probably never appear again if I miss this opportunity. This time it is music, but in the future, we plan to sell vintage archives that have been a source of inspiration for us in making things, such as movies and military items, replacing them from time to time.
Another highlight is the limited-edition items that will be sold in conjunction with the store opening.
One is a triple-collaboration shirt created with collage artist Kosuke Kawamura for a pop-up store held in January at the London boutique GOODHOOD. There were many requests to sell them here in Japan as well, so we decided to launch them in time for the Paris Collection. The T-shirts were also printed with graphics improvised by Mr. Kawamura during a live collage session at that time. Another T-shirt is a long T-shirt made from a photo of a volcano taken by photographer Kenta Sawada on the island of Hawaii, which he visited to shoot the catalog, and another T-shirt made from a photo taken on location for the legendary skate video "Animal Chin". The most noteworthy item of the opening commemorative items is the jacket, which is a collage of actual products, archive samples, and old clothes that I used to own but no longer need. Each jacket has a different design, and the number of pieces is limited to 11.
