BEAMS T, which has had a relationship with TACOMAFUJI RECORDS since its establishment, will be holding its first pop-up store to coincide with the release of a collaborative model between "Succany" and "TACOMAFUJI RECORDS". We spoke with Kentaro Kuwahara, director of BEAMS T, about the correlation between T-shirts and sneakers.
Kentaro Kuwabara
Born in 1978 in Hokkaido, he joined BEAMS in 2002 and worked at BEAMS Sapporo before moving to Tokyo, where he became the director of BEAMS T in 2012. In addition to buying and planning various projects, he is also a collector with over 1,000 T-shirts in his collection.
Adults are seriously goofing around, in a good way. . and these sneakers have that playful spirit firmly in place.
How long have Tacoma Fuji Records and Beams T been in business together?
mulberry fieldI have known Mr. Watanabe since around 2009 through an acquaintance. Mr. Watanabe likes to drink, and we often have drinks at a bar in Koenji with various people, and we always talk about maniacal things about pro wrestling (laughs). T-shirt brands usually have their ups and downs, and we have to plan our buying six months in advance to anticipate these ups and downs, but Tacomahuji Records' T-shirts always sell consistently. T-shirts with motifs such as pro wrestling, music, and beer are always a hit. I think it must be because the motifs are based on things I like, so they are persuasive. Mr. Watanabe often contacts me for research, and I respond, "Recently, items with thicker bodies and wide silhouettes are selling well," but in the end, I come up with the shape Mr. Watanabe likes. In the end, however, I come up with the final product in the shape that Mr. Watanabe likes. He does not follow trends, even in a good sense, and he has his fans.
Sneakers and T-shirts seem to be items that go well with each other .
mulberry fieldI think you are right. We have collaborated with "Sakkany" before, and we would like to do sneaker projects and buying on a semi-annual basis. By developing items that match T-shirts based on a sports taste, it will be easier to convey the store's world view. When Mr. Watanabe told us about the collaboration with "Sakkany," we decided to not only buy from him, but also to do a pop-up store to coincide with the launch. Not only is this the first collaboration with a sneaker brand for Takoma Fuji Records, but it is also the first pop-up store at "BEAMS T." I think this will be a year of many firsts for us.
What did you think of the actual finished item?
mulberry fieldThe smoky suede and blue mesh upper is a color scheme that I would never have thought of, even in a good way, and I think it really shows the "Tacoma Fuji Records" style. I was looking forward to seeing how "TACOMA JAZZ" by "SUCCANY" would change the standard model, and I even decided to buy and open a pop-up store as soon as I saw the actual shoe. The other model, "HOPS & BARLEY," was also a surprise. Tacoma Fuji Records has a strong image of outdoor activities and festivals, so if you think about it, it's a perfect model. In general, it is difficult to differentiate T-shirt brands, but each TACOMA Fuji Records item has its own story and episode, making it stand out from the rest. In a good sense, adults are seriously fooling around. I think this sense of playfulness is also firmly embedded in this collaboration.
Do you have any recommendations on how to wear these sneakers?
mulberry field. In general, I think it is easier to coordinate the color of the sneakers with the color of the clothes. Unlike leather shoes, sneakers come in a variety of colors, making color matching more challenging. Both of the sneakers in this collaboration between "Succany" and "Tacoma Fuji Records" have earthy colors, so I think they are easy to coordinate with each other.
