How Kansai's first directly-managed store "Porter Classic Kyoto" was established. | feature

First directly managed store in Kansai
How Porter Classic Kyoto was created.

Porter Classic, which just reopened its store in the Isetan Shinjuku Men's Building this past February, opened its first directly-managed store in the Kansai region, "Porter Classic Kyoto," last month, The modern space, an entire two-story row house, is not only comfortable, but also a magical place where one naturally feels at ease. So how did the Kyoto branch come to be? On the day of the opening, when the shop was crowded with many customers, we interviewed the representative, Mr. Reio Yoshida.

Photo_Shinichiro Ariizumi

Where Porter Classic Kyoto is headed.

This is the fifth store following Ginza, Isetan, Kanazawa, and Nagoya.

I am grateful, I am truly blessed by my fans and my staff. We discussed among the staff what we wanted to do and what we wanted to achieve with whom, and today we are able to celebrate the opening like this and laugh together. I am truly grateful for that.

I'm taking the liberty of saying that I think Kyoto's climate and Porter Classic's atmosphere seem to go together very well.

I guess there is a similarity between Kyoto and Paris. Sometimes I think Kyoto is somewhat like Paris. I actually like new things, but I also respect tradition. It's also wonderful to see how many different styles of Kyoto still exist. The differences between generations are also interesting. Kyoto is famous for its historical buildings, and the Kyoto International Manga Museum is particularly interesting.

Are the interior decorations by M&M the same as in the past?

In fact, this was the first time I was working with this craftsman. It is true that in the past, we have always been able to work together. However, it was very fresh and fun to express Porter Classic's sensibility and worldview with craftspeople who were new to the project. We began communication by having the interior designers wear Porter Classic clothes. Then, I prepared materials for each area (interior, exterior, fixtures, lighting, colors, etc.). We wanted each craftsman to be able to communicate "Porter Classics" to the client. I honestly thought it would be an impossible order in this day and age, but the craftsmen did a perfect job. I was very impressed.

The courtyard at the back of the first floor is also a very pleasant space.

I would like to do workshops, flea markets, used book fairs, photo shoots, and many other things here. And maybe moon-watching. The moon I saw the day before yesterday was so beautiful.

Do you change the contents of the museum and library space on a regular basis?

That's right. We would like to convey the spirit of "Porter Classics" by using miscellaneous goods, items that our predecessors used with care, and books and photo collections that were the source of inspiration for our craftsmanship, whether in Japan or abroad, as we see fit.

By the way, the store opened on March 10 (Tuesday). Why did you open on a weekday when most shops open on weekends?

When the contractor showed me the process list, he tentatively put the opening date as March 10, which coincided with my grandfather's birthday, which made me feel a connection. Kichizo, Katsuyuki's father. Moreover, it was a great holiday, so I thought this was the only day to do it.

Everything came together in the right place, at the right time, and in the right form.

This is just the beginning. The store, courtyard, museum, library, and atelier are the ideal spaces where you can experience the brand's worldview through all five senses, which is what we have wanted to do for many years. We would like to present a new way of being a store that is different from our previous four stores.