Lacoste is the king of classic style and formal wear.
PROFILE
Buyer of the men's casual department of the select store BEAMS. He became a buyer in 2017 after serving for many years as the manager of the store's T-shirt label, BEAMS T. He has been playing tennis since he was a child, and was good enough to participate in the intercollegiate tennis tournament when he was in college. Because of this, he is also in charge of planning special order products with "Lacoste," which has a close relationship with tennis.
I heard that you have been playing tennis since you were a child.
Arai:I was devoted to it from the second grade of elementary school until college, and I even got in the entrance exam through tennis. I devoted my entire youth to tennis, aiming to become a pro. However, I began to realize that my abilities were not good enough (laugh). I also liked fashion, and "BEAMS" was a store I had always dreamed of working at, but I was lucky enough to get in.
Do you have any regulations on what to wear in tennis, like you do in golf?
Arai:When I was little, I couldn't go to games without a one-pointed polo shirt. And it had to be all white. If the mark on your chest was too big, they would put duct tape on it. Nowadays, these rules have become more relaxed, but Wimbledon still respects tradition, and pure white clothing is still required.
Did you also wear Lacoste when you played?
Arai:I used to wear it a lot. My mother worked for a company related to Lacoste, so I was very familiar with the brand. Lacoste is already a legend in the world of tennis. The older I get, the more I feel its greatness. Other brands are following Lacoste's lead and making polos with one-pointed designs. It is an amazing brand.
In my mind, the Lacoste brand has an image of being classic and formal wear. Since I was a child, I was forced to wear polo shirts when I played tennis and on celebratory occasions. I always wore Lacoste on important occasions.
I guess it was inevitable that you became in charge of Lacoste as a buyer for BEAMS.
Arai:I guess that's a cool way of putting it (laughs). (Laughs.) I had always wanted to do this. I was able to become a buyer, and my boss was originally in charge, but gradually I became involved in the planning process. Over time, my boss decided to focus on other brands, and now I am in charge by myself.
The photo shows a special-order item for Lacoste, created by Mr. Arai. Clockwise from top: A T-shirt with a vintage logo reprinted from the archives on the chest. Embossed sweatshirt. The logo was inspired by a bag that Mr. Arai's mother used to have stamped on it. Long T-shirt with a big crocodile printed on the back.
Do you have any special considerations or important things to keep in mind when making a custom order?
Arai:I want to create a classic style that respects the classic styles I have seen, but also creates a little bit of a joke to break up the classic style. I want a wide range of people to support my designs as men's casual wear.
This is a garment that I planned, and I embossed the pattern on the sweatshirt from a bag that my mother used to use. Also, when I visited a factory in France last year, there was an archive room, and I was able to negotiate on the spot to use a logo I saw there.
Also, there is a logo with the word "LACOSTE" inside the crocodile, right? We negotiated to have that logo used only at BEAMS as a special order in Japan.
I can only say that I really enjoy working with Lacoste. Lacoste sponsors the French Open tennis tournament, and through this connection, I was able to visit the sacred tennis venue Roland Garros and the factory in Troyes.
How was the factory?
Arai:The work was done with great precision. There were dozens of looms, and each machine had to be attended to by a person who had to watch to make sure it was working properly. So it was no longer easy to say, "I want to modify the pitch width more," during a business meeting. It takes a lot of effort to do that. It's really amazing how analog it still is.
I had a lot of respect for the brand itself, but seeing the people who work there, I guess I developed more affection for them.
Arai:That's right. So I used to convey images through my senses, but now I show them my old catalogs and archives and give them more concrete instructions so that they can be conveyed more easily. But I think the reason we are able to "break it down" in this way is because we have an unshakable standard. That is why we can come up with ideas. I really have nothing but respect for them.
What is so special about the polo shirt you are wearing today?
Arai:I made this myself about three years ago when I did a custom event at BEAMS. You could change the color of the collar and the color scheme of the ribs, but I dared to make it all black (laughs). (Laughs.) Because BEAMS does not offer large sizes, and I wanted something in that size. This one is a "7," which is about the size of an XXL.
Lacoste's deer fabric doesn't fade that heavily, so it doesn't look old even if you wear it for a long time. That's what sets Lacoste apart from other brands. The pure white polos don't yellow over time either, which is proof that they are good quality. The collars stand up beautifully, and they listen to what you say without going in any arbitrary direction.
L.12.12" was developed as tennis wear by René Lacoste, a professional tennis player. Since then, many brands have released polo shirts, but this is the classic model that became the prototype for all of them (¥13,000+TAX). The polo shirt worn by Mr. Arai is based on it.
Mr. Arai, please tell us about the last thing you are conscious of when you wear polo shirts.
Arai:I always close the top button when I wear it. As I mentioned earlier, I like to keep it neat and tidy because I feel it is classic or formal attire. So naturally, I often wear a polo shirt when I meet with superiors. I may be a bit of an honor student (laugh), but I wear a larger size to give it a more casual feel, or more of my own personality. I want to look young (laughs).
