PROFILE
After working as a buyer at the select store Edifice, he became independent. After working on his own, he launched "Reshop" in 2015 , and will start his original label " LE " in 2019.
PROFILE
After working at "UNITED ARROWS" as a press, buyer, and director of "UNITED ARROWS & SONS", he became independent in 2018. Currently, he curates and directs various projects, including the studio "2G," which includes a gallery, and his own brand, "POGGYTHEMAN.
PROFILE
After working as a patterner for several apparel brands, he established "Masterpiece and Co." with Hisayo Hidaka, a designer, and started "SAI" as an original brand. He started "SAI" as an original brand, pursuing meaningful tailoring with reference to the patterns of the good old days.
As for the jacket, we agreed on what we wanted to wear.
In August of this year, Mr. Kaneko took a photo of you and Mr. Ogi.Post to Instagram. Now I understand that the photo was the kickoff of the project. Now we know that the photo was the kickoff of the project, but what kind of conversation did you have at that time?
Kaneko:A mutual acquaintance of ours introduced us to Mr. Ogi, and we had lunch together. At that time, we discussed the possibility of doing something together.
What was your impression of Mr. Ogi?
Kaneko:When I think of Mr. Ogi, I still have a strong image of "UNITED ARROWS". Did I see him at a reception somewhere? He was wearing a neat suit and had his hair in a slicked-back style (laughs).
Ogi:Ha ha ha , yes (laughs).
Kaneko:. He was wearing a very English style suit. I am always impressed by people who wear dresses well and stylishly. I had the impression that he was a dressmaker.
Ogi:I launched "UNITED ARROWS & SONS" in 2010, and around that time I started going to Pitti with the dress team of "UNITED ARROWS" itself. Until then, I used to wear suits just for the fun of it, but I realized that I needed to get the basics right as well. On the other hand, the more I wore a basic suit, the more I felt like I was losing my individuality or becoming less myself, and I was trying to find a way to express my personality through trial and error.
I see. When you used to work at "EDIFITH," you also worked on the dress sales floor, didn't you, Mr. Kaneko?
Kaneko:Yes, when I was about 26 or 7 years old, there was a small clothing section in the basement of the Edifice Shibuya store. Classico Italia was in its heyday at the time, and I would buy shirts from Stefano Bee and Barba, and shoes from Edward Green. I also wore shirts by Eric Bergere.
Ogi:Eric Bergère , I miss it.
Kaneko: . Casual wear, which I had been wearing somewhat casually until then, changed somewhat after I learned about closing. . I think what I learned there made my casual wear evolve more, or rather, there was a connection between the two.
Do you always have the desire to make dress clothes like this?
Kaneko:The number of people wearing suits has been decreasing year by year, and this has become even more pronounced due to the coronavirus. I always wondered in my heart if there was anything I could do to help. When Mr. Ogi told me that his own style had changed considerably as a result of the coronavirus, I felt a slight link with my own feelings about the situation.
What exactly has changed in your style?
Ogi:I originally joined a select store because I liked street fashion, and when I became independent from "United Arrows" two years ago, I had a strong desire to do those things that I originally liked. However, under the influence of Corona, I cleaned out my house and organized my closet significantly, and I realized a lot of things.
As for suits, Hedi Slimane became the designer of Dior Homme in 2001 and his suits became slimmer, and Thom Browne came out in 2004-5 and made slim, traditional suits, but suits made before that were worn more regularly. I think I wear suits made before that time more regularly.
I wanted to make such clothes this time as well. I think there will only be a limited number of items that will remain in the future, but I wanted to propose such clothes to the world. I knew it would be risky to do so in today's era of oversized and casual clothing, but when I talked with Mr. Kaneko, we both liked similar things, and we agreed on what we wanted to wear when it came to jackets.
Photo_Kazuyasu Mori
Kaneko:We were almost the same, weren't we? I just remembered that we also shared a love of "American men.
Ogi:Ah, yes , (laughs).
Kaneko:We are wearing caps today, but this is exactly the way I like to dress as an American uncle.
Ogi:However, I have an image of Mr. Kaneko as a classy guy who came out from Texas and went to San Francisco or New York, but in my case, I like the kind of guy who came out from Texas and went to Hollywood in LA, who is a little bit frivolous (laughs).
All:LOL!
Kaneko:. The way we look at things is filtered differently, but the roots are the same in America.
I know you are from "Edifice" and I think there is a big French influence, but is your style still American?
Kaneko:In the end, the things I own and buy now are all American, and I am constantly buying things that I couldn't afford in the 1990s. On the other hand, we both happen to be wearing Loro Piana knitwear today, and we also enjoy mixing European brands like this. . We are like that for casual wear, but for tailored jackets, our tastes are exactly the same.
As you mentioned in the video uploaded on Youtube the other day, that was the English-style jacket, wasn't it?
Kaneko:Yes, I am. When we first had lunch, we agreed that we wanted to make English-style suits, but I felt that something was missing. If things continue as they are, we will end up just creating a style. I felt that I needed support in the area of manufacturing.
BAYCREW'S has a talented production team that used to make suits at EDIFITH, but I thought we could achieve higher quality production by having someone who understands what Mr. Ogi and I are trying to say and who also has a family tradition of making suits join us.
So that's when you thought of Mr. Miyahara's face.
Kaneko:Yes, that's right. With Mr. Miyahara's participation here, we were confident that we could create something that would definitely appeal to young people as well as those who love suits.
Miyahara:. I was very happy when I heard about the opportunity. I knew that Kaneko-kun was active in "Reshop," and in fact, we have known each other for a long time. He has been looking at our clothes since the debut of "SAI". For various reasons, it was difficult for us to do business with him, but later he started to deal with us at EDIFICE. Our offices were close to each other in the past, and we often met for lunch. However, we had never worked together on a production project like this one.
I had "liked" Kaneko-kun and Ogi's Instagram post about having lunch together, and a few days later, I was contacted by them. I saw the instagram post of Kaneko and Ogi having lunch and "liked" it, but a few days later I was contacted by them and asked to join.
Kaneko:I was sure he would give me a "like" (laughs). (Laughs.) So it was very easy to consult with them.
It is unusual for you to be involved in a project like this, isn't it?
Miyahara:. I guess so. I really enjoyed working with them through many meetings, talking about various details such as "Let's do this for the buttons" or "Let's do this for the silhouette here". We had a lot of meetings, and I think that we were able to create something quite rich. . I think it is obvious by looking at the members of this team (laughs).
