They never have neat looks.

How did the "Bach Garments" project begin?

chestnut fieldI wanted to do something interesting for "Journal Standard," which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. That's when I asked Mr. Sawada for advice.

paddy fieldI think it was last spring when we were first approached. We had already done a lot of special orders with different colors and materials, so we were talking about how it would be meaningless unless we took a different approach. So Mr. Kurihara asked me, "Can we create an apparel line? Mr. Kurihara asked me if I could create an apparel line.

I think it's an unprecedented case of creating apparel derived from a bag.

Atsuhiro Sawada / Director, Barrio
. director of Barrio, an importer and distributor of brands familiar to Journal Standard, including Bach, Tilak, and Cretarmuusen.

paddy field. I had a feeling that there was nothing I couldn't do. So, we approached the Bach staff in Switzerland, but contrary to our initial expectations, we did not get an "OK" from them.... So, in frustration, we went to Switzerland and met with the CEO of Bach, a man named Martin.

chestnut field. we would go to his house and have a BBQ in his yard (laughs).

paddy field. yes, yes. So we spent some time together talking about things that had nothing to do with work, and as we were leaving, Martin said, "Why don't you try his store?" Martin said, "Why don't you try his shop?

Is this because "Journal Standard" has a good relationship with "Bach"?

paddy field. . it is not everything, but I am sure it is one of the factors. Mr. Kurihara and Martin meet each other at every exhibition, and it has been a long time since "Journal Standard" started carrying their products.

Jun Kurihara / Director, JOURNAL STANDARD
He has been a member of Journal Standard since its early days. He has worked as a buyer for many years and became a director in 2016.

chestnut field. I think we have probably been dealing with this brand since the store started. However, once upon a time, I don't think it was a popular brand like it is now.... Rather, there was a big impression that they were left unsold. At that time, they were made in Ireland, and because of the exchange rate, the prices were quite high. However, the quality was good, so I patiently continued to order, and Bach has now grown to be a hot-selling brand.

paddy fieldI was selling Bach at a store in Kyoto called "Loftman" once upon a time, but at that time it had not yet seen the light of day.... So when "Barrio" became the distributor, I was against it, to be honest (laughs). But Mr. Kurihara pushed me, saying, "It would be very helpful if you would do it," and I started handling it, even though my heart was not convinced.

chestnut field. They don't meet deadlines, and they are quite loose in their home country (laughs). (Laughs.) That's why it would be very helpful if you could do it at your place.

I see (laughs). (laughs) But it turned out not to be the wrong choice.

paddy field: Yes, I think so. I am glad we did it. Nowadays, the brand is supported not only by men but also by women. This is something I often discuss with Mr. Kurihara, but I don't think that Bach items are necessarily neat in appearance (laughs).

What do you mean by that?

paddy field. The design is not outstandingly sophisticated, but is rather life-size. . It might be easier to understand if I describe it as somewhat relaxed. Bach retains some of the old-fashioned classicism in its designs, and I think that's the appeal of this brand. It may be misleading to say that it is not cool, but I think that the brand is cool now because it is a little blunt and casual.

chestnut fieldThis logo is also good, it looks kind of dull (laughs). 1989 was the year this logo was created, and we are still using it today. But you don't see this kind of logo nowadays. I think it is unique. The old-fashioned, unwavering attitude of the company, including its products, looks very fresh when applied to the current era.

paddy field. So, in a sense, I think that creating an apparel line under this brand will lead to the creation of something that does not exist in the current era.

Manufacturing started with a few rough keywords.

Bach makes functional bags for the so-called outdoor and travel scenes, right? As an apparel line, do you carry on that philosophy?

paddy field: Yes, that's right. I didn't want to ruin the image of the bag, so I had to keep the concept of "functionality" in mind. Then, when we came to the question of how to express this concept, we came up with the idea of making all items packable. When we came to the question of how to express this, we came up with the idea of making all items packable.

It's lightweight and easy to carry.

paddy field. Yes, that's right. Just as the Buck line was releasing items that specialize in lightweight products, there is an affinity there as well.

Once the concept was decided, how did the work progress?

chestnut fieldI threw out a few rough keywords, and Mr. Sawada helped me formulate them.

paddy field: "anorak", "shakashaka", "pullover", and so on, really roughly (laughs).

chestnut fieldI thought it would be better that way, though some people might think it was a rough way of pitching. If I gave detailed instructions, I thought it would be difficult to create something good. We have known each other for a long time, and we have seen Bach's products for a long time, so we have something in common. I had confidence from the beginning that Mr. Sawada would be able to handle the job.

When you were throwing out the keywords, what kind of image did you have in your mind?

chestnut fieldI had a vague idea of anoraks and shaky fabrics, but I had no concrete image of the details and details. I am not a designer, nor am I the director of Bach. I am not a designer, nor am I the director of "Bach." I am just a buyer for "Journal Standard," and as a result of thinking about what kind of items I would like to see in the store, those keywords came to me.

The selection of fabrics was made at my own discretion and prejudice.

As the person who gives shape to the keywords, how did you perceive it?

paddy field. To be honest, I couldn't see anything at first (laughs). But after taking the keywords home and thinking about it for a couple of days, an image gradually began to emerge. Since it was to be a packable item, I came to the conclusion that the first thing to consider was the fabric. So I went to consult with a trading company called Teijin Frontier.

Teijin is a big company with TV commercials, isn't it? Why did you join Teijin Frontier, a group company of Teijin?

paddy field. We were not a manufacturer, so we had no other contacts. I had only been introduced to a Teijin Frontier staff member by an acquaintance once upon a time, and we had not been in constant communication since then.... As you said, it was a large company, and I honestly worried about what would happen if they rejected me, but I took a chance and contacted them, and they said, "Let's do it together.

paddy fieldWe had a meeting and found this fabric called "PACKIT®" among various fabric samples. I immediately decided to use this fabric. I was instantly impressed, and I still remember thinking, "This is the only way! I still remember thinking, "This is the only way!

chestnut fieldMr. Sawada decided on this fabric without consulting me (laughs). (Laughs.) But I was impressed with Mr. Sawada's work. It was exactly as I had imagined. It also has a nice texture.

What kind of fabric is PACKIT®?

paddy fieldTeijin Frontier Ltd.SOLOTEX® (SOLOTEX®)It is made of a spiral-shaped fiber called "Sewn", which is extremely lightweight and wrinkle-resistant. It is also very lightweight and wrinkle-resistant. And although it cannot handle heavy downpours, it is water-repellent enough to be used in daily life. Mr. Kurihara and I often go on business trips, both in Japan and abroad, and we want to reduce our luggage as much as possible. This is really compact, and I don't have to worry about wrinkles when I wear it. It is very convenient.

In other words, the fabric fits the concept perfectly.

paddy field. That's right. Moreover, although this was an initiative of "Bach" and "Journal Standard" at the planning stage, when we discovered this fabric, we decided to move forward with the project with the involvement of "Teijin Frontier" as well. In other words, by bringing together the fabric manufacturer, the brand, and the retailer, we were able to deliver a product with a higher level of perfection to our customers.

How to express affinity with the bag?

Once the concept and fabrics were decided, how did the design take shape?

chestnut fieldAs I mentioned at the beginning, I thought that the appeal of "Bach" lies in its life-size design, so I wanted to make the items in this collection without being overbearing. There are plenty of "cool" products out there. In this context, I wanted to create an item that deviated slightly from the trend vector. As usual, I gave Mr. Sawada a rough idea of what I wanted (laughs).

paddy field. We are in our 40s, so we tend to prefer classic products from the 80s rather than the more stylish items of today. . We also choose to wear things that are comfortable to wear. In other words, they should be functional and comfortable to wear, with some room in the silhouette. So, I wanted to reflect these ideas in the design of the Bach Garments collection.

I see that "classic products" and "function" are similar to the bags of "Bach" as well.

paddy fieldI had the help of a pattern maker friend of mine for the design, and we worked together to figure out how to connect it to the "Bach" bags. I worked with him to figure out how to connect the design with the Bach bag.

chestnut field. When you look at the finished product, you can see the "Bach-ness" in the small details, such as pockets and the use of parts. Pockets, the use of parts, and so on.

paddy field. Yes, that's right. . The pocket details on the bag are also used on the clothing, enhancing the affinity between the two.

chestnut fieldI honestly did not expect the items to be so highly finished (laughs). (Laughs) So I am very happy with it. I want all kinds of customers to see it. I want people who like "Bach" to take notice of it, of course, but I also want people who don't like "Bach" to take notice of it. It is a functional, packable item, but even if you omit that part, I think it is a good fashionable design.

What are your plans for this project?

paddy field. I have a desire to continue to do so in the future. For the first year, we will only be selling the Journal Standard, and after that, we will decide in discussions with the home country.

It's too early to tell, but have you already started planning for the fall/winter season?

paddy field: The story is somewhat in progress. But, as in this case, we can't proceed without the right fabric for the project. . We are going to start by looking for a fabric from Teijin Frontier's lineup that we can't find anywhere else.

chestnut fieldBach, Teijin Frontier, and Journal Standard were able to work in unison this time around, and we would like to continue that work.

paddy fieldI agree with you . None of them should be missing. Ideally, the three companies should work well together to create good products, and I would like to do something interesting again at such a time.

chestnut field. Well, that's still a long way off. Well, that is still a long way off, so first of all, I want many people to see this first collection. That's all I can say.