STYLE 1 It is the staple items that should be updated rather than the other way around.
PROFILE
After working as a sales representative for a women's brand, he worked for a men's brand for 10 years before becoming a freelance designer in 2012.
Instagram:@norikokikuchi
How did you feel when you actually tried on the MADE IN USA sweatshirts this time?
I like the fabric that is roomy but falls softly and stonily. I pulled out a pair of compact sneakers that I hadn't worn recently and enjoyed a different balance than usual. I have a lot of old Champion sweatpants, but it's hard to find sweatpants in a good silhouette with pockets and hem stops, especially for women. I like this set-up from that point of view.
KIKUCHI： The sweatshirt set-up is a regular item released by "HOLIDAYS," which you also direct, isn't it? The sweatshirt set-up itself is also a very typical Kikuchi style. This time, you had a lot of trouble choosing the right size for both the top and bottom.
I always choose my size carefully, even if the item is a set-up or a brand I am used to wearing. Recently, I tend to wear voluminous tops with pants that are not too thick, so for this sweatshirt top and bottom, at first I thought, "I'll probably wear a L on top and a S on the bottom. However, when I actually touched the sweatshirts, I realized that they were lighter in ounce and that they were designed in Japan, so I thought it would be better to try a different balance than I usually do. As a result, I ended up settling on size M for the top and bottom.
You are very meticulous when it comes to choosing a size, aren't you?
I don't want to make a decision like, "I always wear a medium size for this brand, so a medium will be fine this time, too. There are many things you can't understand until you actually see the item. Therefore, I don't think I am qualified to talk about something unless I see it with my own eyes and try on the sleeves.
In terms of wearing and as a creator, you have a consistent perspective. You have a consistent perspective.
We review and update our standard products every time. Generally speaking, standard items are the same thing, so people tend to think that they are the least time-consuming items. However, we ourselves change as we age, and people's thinking also changes over time. That is why I believe that the more standard items should be made and changed in accordance with changes in oneself and one's surroundings. For me, it is much more difficult to continue making standard items than to create new seasonal items.
Champion has a long history, and has also introduced a number of items to the world that are considered standard items. What kind of items have you yourself picked up so far?
The other day, I checked my closet again and found that there were at least 30 pieces of reverse weaves alone! I have items from various eras, so I notice that even within the same reverse weave, there are slight differences in size balance, fabric texture, and rubber adhesion. Perhaps they were adjusted according to the mindset of the creator at the time, or according to the times. I feel the depth and fashion of a standard item in this way. I always tell my staff about a certain long-established Japanese confectionery. It is a famous confectionery with a history of hundreds of years, but the flavor has actually changed slightly over the years. Sometimes they add saltiness, sometimes sweetness. I have my own sympathy for this classic way of doing things (laughs).
Champion and Holiday should both aim to be "the old confectionery of the apparel world" (laughs).
