Comori and wism, sensual ism, unite denim. | feature

PROFILE

Keijiro Komori

COMOLI

He worked as a designer at a select store. He later became an independent designer and launched several brands as a freelance designer before launching "Komori" in 2011.

PROFILE

Ryu Horike

WISM

After working in sales at a vintage clothing store and a select store, she worked as a buyer for two stores before moving into PR. 2012, she participated in the launch of "Wism. Currently, she is working as a conceptor for the store.

Clothes that will remain in the customer's wardrobe forever.

How long have you two known each other?

Hori family:In fact, we have been dealing with "Komori" since "Wism" was established, and I knew about the brand from that time.Jacket with felt flowers on the chest that can be removedand there was the Komori shirt, which is now a standard item.

About the time when you first started the brand?

Komori:I think it was about the second or third season after we started the brand when the previous buyer came to us.

Hori family:The first time I saw the jacket and the Komori shirt, I thought, "This shirt is beautiful. But at the time I was even bigger than I am now, and I couldn't wear even a size 3. But the next season, when they came out with a reversible coat, I thought, "Oh, this brand is amazing! This brand is amazing! I thought, "Wow!

So it was a real experience for you.

Hori family:The system was that you could buy it if you waited a week after it arrived, but in the end it was sold out before that. I was very disappointed at the time, and that is when I suddenly became interested in "Komori. I went to an exhibition and saw the full lineup for the first time. At that time, I thought, "Oh, there are so many cool clothes. There are so many more clothes I want to buy besides the ones we carry.

At that time, the previous buyer was doing the purchasing, but did you two start talking when you became involved in the purchasing process?

Komori:I think that was the case, wasn't it? I think it was when the previous buyer, Mr. Horike, and I went to a pub together.

Hori family:That was when Komori and Vans collaborated. Mr. Komori is very shy, so he didn't talk much at that time. So I thought on my own that he would not be good with people like me (laughs).

I was then asked to visit the office to discuss a special order. The request was for an open collar shirt in a large size. At the time, shirts were only available in sizes up to 3, so when I wore that size, I couldn't create the space between the fabric and my skin that is typical of "Komori. I was envious when I saw customers wearing loose-fitting shirts.

You started talking a lot from there?

Hori family:No, I still get nervous. I don't want to speak or say anything strange. But at the time, I was more nervous than that. It's only in the last year or so that I've finally become able to speak properly. It may be obvious, but Komori-san knows a lot about fabrics and clothes. On the other hand, I look at clothes based on whether I like them or not, whether I want to wear them or not. To be honest, I don't feel guilty about not knowing, but for some reason I feel that way at Komori-san's exhibitions... (wry smile).

Komori:I think that's fine. Mr. Horie has clear likes and dislikes, and I find it easier to talk to and interact with people like that. I think it's fine for clothes to be sensible. However, people who see my clothes think that I must have a strong sense of strength.

Hori family:I think everyone has their own impression of any brand, like "this brand is this kind of brand. So, I have my own image of "this is how I would wear it. It took me a while to share that with Mr. Komori.

long vowel mark (usually only used in katakana) Horike's BlogYou have been transmitting your passion for . On the other hand, it is not easy to get an impression of a store from a brand, but how do you see "wism"?

Komori:People tell me that it is surprising that "wism" handles so many products. At one time, we had the largest number of product numbers. I think this store shows the result of choosing what you like, without dividing it into categories, while looking at things from all over the world.

I have been talking about this for a while, but there is no genre that I dislike. Perhaps you may think that I am far away from street-like things, but I prefer to combine street-like things with "komori. However, even if there is no genre that I dislike, I have my likes and dislikes in the way I express myself. It is difficult to find that balance.

Do you mean the way you present yourself in your store?

Komori:Yes, it is. It is sometimes difficult to share that because it is a very sensual thing.

Hori family:In that sense, what Mr. Komori's clothes have taught me is that doing something fancy is not the right answer. I think it's a little more like a different vector. It's never enough to say, "This is the best brand of the season!" It's definitely not the way to launch a product like "This is the best brand of the season! I think it is better to communicate in such a way that the clothes will remain in the wardrobe of the customers who buy them.

Comomori" is a kind of "additive" clothing. It's not that the clothes are great when you pick them up, but that they are great when you try them on, even if you think they are just casual clothes, and then they get even better when you wash them at home. That's why I have surprisingly many opportunities to wear "komori" clothes. When I'm in trouble, I just grab it. The other day I had to attend an important meeting (laughs).

Regarding "Komori", I think it is more important to convey the essence of the product.

Hori family:Yes, it is. So it is a very important brand, an important designer, and an important person.