What you need to know about Arc'teryx now.

ARC'TERYX is a brand that is supported not only by extreme users such as climbers and backcountry skiers, but also by people on the street. However, the reality of ARC'TERYX is vague, and not many people know about its origins. For this interview, we invited Ken Takagi, the brand's head of Japan, to Arc'teryx, which opened on March 18 in Futakotamagawa Rise S.C. and boasts the largest sales floor in the Tokyo metropolitan area, to hear about the Futakotamagawa store and other things about the brand. The more you know about the brand, the more fascinating it is.

Photo_Masayuki Nakaya

Text_Keisuke Kimura

Edit_Hiroshi Yamamoto

It has always been , and always will be, a field first.

Do you have any environmental initiatives in place?

Takagi:First of all, we, starting with the 2022 SS, have stopped making color samples.

What do you mean?

Takagi:For example, if we were to make six colors in one item, we would need six samples. . We decided not to do that and made all the samples one gray color. . That reduced the number of samples drastically. So, until the product actually arrives, the colors can only be confirmed on the PC, so it is sometimes a surprise when the item arrives (laughs).

The event, which was held on the day of the opening, "CIRCULAR BY DESIGN WITH MORI YUMI." . a circular economy initiative that uses samples that are scheduled to be discarded to make products.

Takagi:Also, we want our customers to be able to use the items they purchase for a long time, so we offer a full repair service and follow-up education on how to wash and care for them.

A: Nowadays, there is a lot of demand for street clothes, but what kind of customers do you actually have?

Takagi:There are many people who use it as street wear, and there are also many hard-use users after all. I have the impression that there is a wide range of users. I would be happy if users who do not go to the field could feel not only the design but also the functionality, such as waterproofing, windproofing, and comfort. . Design, craftsmanship, and performance are the three keywords of our manufacturing.

Arc'teryx's designs have remained consistent no matter how much the outdoor boom has increased.

Takagi:For example, if you put a lot of pockets on it, it might sell, but we don't have that idea. If pockets are necessary, we will put them on. . It is all about how comfortable you can be in the field.

. It sounds like you are looking for the ultimate in functional beauty. What kind of brand do you want to create in Japan in the future?

Takagi:Awareness is still low, and they are not inexpensive. . However, I am confident that it is a valuable brand, and I would be happy if more people knew its value. . Please come visit us at our store in Futakotamagawa.