The concept of "Cotton Pants" is to give form to the memories of a culture that we want to preserve.
You certainly have the perfect balance of lusciousness. . Have you always drawn with this touch?
Hikari:. It hasn't changed that much, but I think it's only recently that I've developed this kind of touch. People say that I'm still a bit lascivious (laugh), but in the past, I was even more lascivious and cute. I used to draw animals and so on.
Koji:. it was more like a textile than a character.
Hikari:. yes, like drawing little flowers and so on. . From there, I began to incorporate cultural elements while retaining a sense of humor.
Koji:The concept of "Cotton Pants" is "culture to be preserved. We are not just sampling, but rather, in our own way, we are trying to preserve the memories of scenes from movies and TV dramas, as well as CD and record jackets. With the generalization of music subscriptions, there is a possibility that CDs themselves will disappear. So, in order to preserve them, I tried to make the print size the size of an actual CD. The same goes for scenes in movies and TV dramas. They are the size of the 14-inch TV screens that our generation used to watch. I started the brand because I wanted to preserve that on T-shirts that can be worn anytime, even if one day size will be forgotten and everything will become minimalist.
I now understand why I feel nostalgic. Not only the motifs, but also the size of the prints that represent them, are tied to my memories of those days. By the way, what is the role of your wife, Hikari, as a designer, and your husband, Koji?
Koji:Since we are now in full swing as a brand, my main duties as director are to supervise the entire project and confirm deadlines (laughs).
(laughs). That is very important. Also, the stories you choose all hit the nostalgia button exquisitely. How do you choose the material?
Koji:Basically, we share the same culture and the things we like, so I make my selections among them.
Cotton Pants" has many motifs from the 80s and 90s, such as TV dramas, movies, and music, doesn't it?
Koji:There are certainly a lot of material from the 80's and 90's, which I went through in real time, but I'm not obsessed with that. It's just that I don't like to use material that I don't know. So, I don't use material from before that time period.
I see. But, Hikari, you did not go through the school in real time, did you?
Hikari:Yes, I know. So, the first step is to actually see and listen to the works of the motifs he has picked up. Then, if I am into it, I paint it, and if I feel it is different, I don't paint it.
. I understand that there are cases where there are NGs.
Koji:Splatter and horror are not a good idea.
Hikari:I'm simply not good at being scared (laughs).
I have the impression that you also actively accept custom orders.
Koji:For custom orders, we try to understand the wishes of the client. Some orders are quite abstract. For example, a specific order might be "CD jackets from the 1990s," but there have also been abstract orders for "smoke. Then, we find the material that we can express through our own filter.
. I see. Speaking of which, I would like to know the origin of your brand name....
Koji:The origin of the name "Cotton Pan" is "to print on cotton"...but actually, it is taken from our surname, Watari = cotton, and Hen = pan, which means "cotton pan" (laugh).
Ahhh... (laughs). Can I make this public?
Koji:It's okay (laughs).
So, What is NEW VINTAGE? You have been keeping your involvement with "Cotton Pan" undisclosed until now, haven't you?
Koji:Yes, it is. Since it is a brand that expresses her art, I did not want it to appear as if it was a one-sided operation by a thrift shop, so I did not disclose it publicly. However, it is not a secret by any means, and people who know about it know about it.
