The store as a communication space is ideal.
What kind of thought went into the creation of "Slow Tempo"? We spoke with the owner, Mr. Onodera, about the brands of products sold here and what he hopes to do with the store in the future.
PROFILE
SLOW TEMPO Owner
CEO, DELTA co,jtd
He is the owner of "Slow Tempo," and is responsible for the design direction of all lines derived from it, such as "Maple" and "mellow people. At the same time, he is involved in the direction of import brands such as "Salvage Public," as well as distribution and promotion.
Not just a place to store, but a place to socialize with locals and friends.
Please tell us about the brands and things you sell at Slow Tempo.
Onodera:First, we are focusing on our own brand "Maple" and the Honolulu brand "Salvage Public," and we are handling items that fit with their world view. From the next fall/winter season, we plan to carry the Norwegian brand "Uber (UBR)" as well. We also carry some vintage clothing, which I select and display products that my friends have purchased. Sometimes I secretly put my own personal items in there as well (laughs).
I heard that some samples of "Maple" and "Salvage Public" are also on the shelves.
Onodera:Yes, we do. We display what we can at reasonable prices. We usually have a sample sale at the end of the season, but we have an on-season sale in May for SS and in September for AW items. We were happy that so many people came to our sample sale the other day. It seems that customers are happy to wear our clothes.
Slow Tempo opened in January of this year.
Onodera:Slow Tempo" is also the flagship store of "Maple," but the first step was to relocate the office. Until last year, we had a showroom and office in Shibuya, and when our contract was up for renewal, we decided to move to a slightly more remote location.
Why did you decide to move your office away from Shibuya?
Onodera:Shibuya is the center of the fashion scene, so many buyers would visit us on their way to other places. However, if we were in a more remote location, we would not be able to go there without thinking about going all the way there. We thought it would be better to have a more personalized approach with people who come to our shop with a clear purpose.
What was the reason why you chose Komazawa?
Onodera:We were having a hard time finding a good location, and then this place just happened to pop up. I am a graduate of Komazawa University and my father is from this area, so I decided that finding a place in Komazawa must be some kind of fate. I thought it would be more relaxing than Shibuya.
So, was the location initially relocated to run the office?
Onodera:No, I was planning to open a store as well as a pure office. However, it is a little different from a regular select store, as it will mainly be a wholesaler of imports and our own brands, so I think of it as a communication space. I hope it will be a place where I can come in contact with all kinds of people.
What kind of management style do you have?
Onodera:Basically, we are open only on three weekends and every other Wednesday. Although it is a store, we are not trying to aggressively sell clothes, but rather to be relaxed, fun, and neutral. I wanted to do it in a very slow tempo. The name of the store also reflects my desire to live at my own leisurely pace.
The minimalist space is very comfortable, but it also has the feel of a showroom and store.
Onodera:That's exactly right. During the launch of a new season, we change the interior and hold exhibitions with a bar of samples that we keep in the back of the building, so we use the space as a showroom as well. However, we don't want the showroom to be too beautiful and difficult to enter, so we want to create a space that is frank and inviting.
