PROFILE
Stylist. Belongs to "UM". Works mainly for men's magazines and advertisements. For more than a decade, he has been in charge of the main visuals for the Pearly Gates catalog, styling the atmosphere of the site from a "craftsman's point of view. He is known for his traditional and dressy styling.
PROFILE
Editor-in-Chief of HOUYHNHNM . . He has been in charge of content production for 9 years. He is well respected by other media outlets for his unwavering aesthetic eye for fashion. Although he has no experience playing golf, he is currently seeking to start a golf project from a different angle from other media.
The collaboration with New Balance is a gem filled with the "love" of each of them.
Pearly Gates' spring theme is "Loved One. As it has become more and more difficult these days to meet someone casually, Pearly Gates, as a golf apparel brand, has been thinking about what it can communicate, and in the end, they thought, what remains? They thought that "love" would be the final answer. The concept is to convey messages of love and words of gratitude that are not usually said.
Komuta:That's quite a grand theme. I see that the shoes in collaboration with "New Balance" exist in that context.
Kobayashi:Yes, it is. In addition to the "UGS 1400," we have collaborated with TWICE, IDÉE, LINE FRIENDS, and LOVOT, and although the companies, business categories, and relationships are different, each has its own "love," and each has its own appeal. In particular, New Balance has the same serious attitude toward manufacturing, so I think that "UGS 1400" is a powerful work of art that we created together in that aspect as well.
You two are wearing the "UGS 1400," a collaboration model between "Pearly Gates" and "New Balance," and I would like to ask you what you think of it when you see and try it on.
Kobayashi:I had the opportunity to see and touch them during the photo shoot for this campaign. Collaborating with the masterpiece "M1400" took a lot of courage. If you put too much work into it, the original shape will be lost, but if you don't, there is no point in collaborating. I think it is very difficult to find the right balance between the two. I think it is typical of "Pearly Gates" to dare to take on such a challenge. It is a golf brand, but it is not the only brand, and I felt that this was the true essence of the collaboration.
Komuta:. First of all, I thought this pure white coloring was nice. I have never played golf, so I am not familiar with golf wear or golf shoes, but I have the impression that many of those items look good in colors and patterns. As the saying goes, "The golf course is a stage," and while there is a culture of thinking of golf wear as stage attire, I liked the fact that it was pure white, despite the many flashy colors and patterns. Of course, I also thought it was great that they could be worn on the street as well.
Kobayashi:The navy "PG89" logo on the heel is simple and clean. It is both assertive and understated.
Komuta:Indeed.
Kobayashi:What is also different from the regular "M1400" is that the outsole, while rubber, has enhanced grip in order to accommodate the lateral movement characteristic of swinging.
Komuta:It may be that the elastic band is attached to the inside like a slip-on, so that the tongue does not shift and the hold is enhanced, making it even more comfortable to wear.
Kobayashi:You can't miss the fact that it comes with two types of shoelaces.
Komuta:. Since the upper is pure white, just changing these laces would change the look.
The shoe chosen for the first collaboration was the "M1400," a popular classic from "New Balance. Everything from the upper to the sole is white, and the "PG98" logo on the heel is proof of the collaboration. Of course, the shoes can be worn both on the golf course and in town, but the waterproofing, enlarged sole ground contact area for improved stability and grip, and rubber toe wrapped inward to take into account the burden of the shot are also highlights of the golf shoe's unique detailing. Two types of laces are provided, so you can change the laces depending on your mood. The "New Balance" logo on the insole is usually printed as "RUNNING," but here it is printed as "GOLF. ¥37,400
Mr. Kobayashi usually wears leather shoes, but do you ever choose "New Balance" sneakers?
Kobayashi:The only sneakers I wear are "New Balance. Once you try a pair of "New Balance" sneakers, you can't get enough of them (laughs). (Laughs). I guess it depends on each person, but I think they are the easiest sneakers to wear. They don't tire me out, and I think they are the sneakers that are easy to incorporate into my own style, without being over the top or anything. Some models are still made in the U.S., so I think of them as being like Alden's.
What part numbers do you usually wear?
Komuta:I used to wear the "998" in gray. My favorite shoe of the past few years is the "990 V3," and now I am very interested in the "990 V6," which is scheduled to be released, and I am always checking to see when it will be released (laughs). HOUYHNHNM's has covered the U.S. factory of "New Balance" several times, and it is a place that is far removed from the athletic shoes made by sports brands in a good way, where so-called craftsmanship is alive and well.
